[Photo from 2012 at HiFi by Shawn Chittle]
The vintage photobooth that resided inside HiFi these past five-plus years is in need of a new East Village home.
HiFi closed at 167 Avenue A back in the fall. Trixie, the owner of the photobooth, thought that the new establishment taking over the HiFi space would keep the machine... that deal fell through, unfortunately.
"So we’re on the prowl again," Trixie told me. "We still have a booth at Otto’s Shrunken Head on 14th Street, and ideally we’d relocate the one from HiFi somewhere within walking distance of that here in the East Village."
The booth was previously at the Lakeside Lounge, which closed in April 2012, on Avenue B.
Trixie remains hopeful to find another home.
"If we can’t find the right location, a fun bar that’s busy enough to make good use of a photobooth, well then I suppose we’d have to consider selling it," she said. "I know these old photobooths are beloved in the neighborhood, but the neighborhood sure ain’t what it used to be."
Interested parties may contact Trixie via this email.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Lakeside's photobooth has a new home
Thanks for the shoutout, we really appreciate it! What makes these vintage photobooths so special is that they are non-digital old-style photographic process machines, black & white, not color, there are no negatives, and every strip of four photos is unique. A vintage photobooth is time machine, every strip that comes out of it is a little piece of magic, and that's what we're trying to keep alive.
ReplyDeleteYou should contact Abby Ehmann at Lucky Bar on 10th and B to see if they have an interest in it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
ReplyDeleteHoliday Cocktail Lounge, maybe?
ReplyDeleteFar from the neighborhood, but what about the Coney Island Freak Bar?
ReplyDeleteHere’s another idea: Put it in Gem Spa.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea Gem Spa or like Lucy's.
ReplyDeleteIf you have specific questions about the photobooth (size, price, etc.) ... Trixie's email is in the post...
ReplyDeleteContact me, we may want to put in in the Museum of the American Gangster
ReplyDeletefor guests to get mug shots... at Historic 80 Saint Marks Place... Lorcanotway at gmail dot com.
Wow, some great ideas here. Thanks everybody for chiming in! I'm going to pursue these suggestions right away. Gem Spa or Ray's would be great, but I think they're both too small. Brooklyn is kind of a haul as far as this hands on owner/operator is concerned, but I'm talking to people in Brooklyn. And Lucy's? One of my favorite bars! Also Lorcan Otway's idea is spot on. I am told that many jails and prisons still use photobooths for mugshots. So yes, some great ideas here. Thanks again everybody for your input, it's great to know that you care!
ReplyDeleteThe lobby floors of Village East Cinema on 2nd Avenue @ 12th Street have plenty of room and a vintage feel already - would love to see it there.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great booth. I miss the Lakeside.
ReplyDeleteSomebody please take this! You've reminded me of nice photo strips with a treasured friend, which we took at Lakeside.
ReplyDeleteDamn I miss the neighborhood.
(And yes I still live here)
I'm having a beer at the Barnacle as we speak and I couldn't think of a more fitting location for the photo booth. It will fit it nicely with the clips from old movies projected on the walls. And there is the world's greatest mirror behind the bar for people to check their look before stepping in to the booth. Give the booth to Lorcan.
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank everybody again for all these wonderful suggestions. I am pursuing them, and meeting with people, and I'm pretty excited! I will check back in and let you know what happens as soon as I know where we're going to end up. Love you! Trixie
ReplyDelete