Thursday, November 7, 2019

After 20-plus years in the East Village, Obscura Antiques and Oddities is closing



Obscura Antiques and Oddities, a wholly unique and one-of-a-kind shop on Avenue A where you can find an array of curiosities, will by packing up its storefront in the weeks ahead.

"Our lease is up at the end of February and we are a bit burned out," co-owner Mike Zohn recently told me. "The business has changed as has the neighborhood, plus the expense and overhead are high."

Yesterday, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the shop and talked with Zohn about the decision to close ... and tracked Obscura's East Village evolution.


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My first experience with Obscura Antiques and Oddities was in the early 1990s, when it was called Wandering Dragon Trading Company, co-owned by Adrian Gilboe, Mike Zohn and Evan Michelson, in a storefront at 263 E. 10th St.

A few years later it moved across the street to 280 E. 10th St. and became Obscura Antiques and Oddities (incorporating the name 18 years ago last month) before finding its most recent home in 2012 a few blocks away at 207 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

It’s been a neighborhood staple for more than a quarter of a century, which is one of the reasons it’s so hard to come to grips with the fact that the shop is shutting its doors. The store will close at the end of this year, with a possibility of limited hours in January to liquidate remaining items before the lease expires in February. Zohn talked with me about the store’s history, why they are closing and what’s next.

The store’s rent, back in the day, was $250 a month, and it was always a party, Zohn says. Cheap rent, parties every night, music, artists, drinking and smoking — a good time. Gilboe eventually moved to Brooklyn and Michelson and Zohn took over the shop, renamed it, and began working in earnest on the business.


[Mike Zohn]



The store and its two owners became the subject of a popular Discovery Channel TV series in 2010 called "Oddities" and possibly a victim of its own success.

Oddity-type shops popped up all over, the business changed, and more folks were buying and selling the merchandise. Overhead grew, taxes and regulations went up, and as Zohn points out, the neighborhood changed. Rents increased exponentially and parking became impossible. (Zohn lives in Easton, Pa., and Michelson in Plainfield, N.J., and both need a vehicle to transport goods and commute.)

Even though the store’s East Village front is closing, the shop will still be in existence online, and Zohn will continue to produce his Oddities Market and plans to look into the possibility of pop-up Oddites shops, maybe even the East Village one day.

I spoke by phone to Michelson — home sick, recovering from a recent work trip — about her plans for the future. She says there are a million things that interest her, but she won’t settle on anything until after the closure of Obscura.

She’s a founding member of Morbid Anatomy Museum and a scholar-in-residence at its library, and says she’s comfortable with the decision to close the shop. Although sad, she says that it’s organically time to go, that the world, the East Village and NYC are different now. Michelson saw Obscura as an outgrowth of the East Village performance and underground art scene and is eager to begin her next chapter of life, something experiential, not commercial.

Neither Michelson nor Zohn feel rushed into making this decision and both seem conformable with timing and the process. Zohn notes that if you have always wanted something special from Obscura, like, say, the two-headed cow or genuine human skull or a Freemasons book written in code, now is the time to come by.

In addition, fixtures from the shop will be available for sale. Shop hours are flexible, most likely every day from 12:30 to 8 p.m.



Look for more photos from inside the shop in an upcoming A Visit To ... feature on EVG.

38 comments:

noble neolani said...

It saddens me that unique no longer can exist in NYC. We lost to corporate America and big real estate.

Anonymous said...

This is a goddamn shame.

DJ Rexx Arkana said...

Sadly, you're right. Obscura is a metaphor for the whole EV. Everyone came to be cool, unwittingly and ironically ensuring it would never be cool again. RIP 80s NYC forever.

Sierra Reid said...

We made it out there in the last 5 years and the store was just as incredible as we imagined. I wish y’all all the best and we’ll do what we can to continue supporting y’all online.

drgalvan55 said...

Sorry to hear this .. Thank you for sharing your store to the world ..

Unknown said...

Oh my I'm heart broken. I love this shop!

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear of your closing. Best of luck to you all.

Judd said...

I’m glad we made the pilgrimage last year. Weirdly, my wife found - and we purchased - a tiny relic from the mid 19th century that turned out to be related to my own family.

MrNiceGuy said...

The neighborhood won't be the same without them. It's hard not to pop in here on the regular, something in the window will always grab your attention. I've got a great dual photo of a rifle team (one photo from 1931, the next from 1935 -- showing how the men aged) that I purchased there and I treasure.

The shop always seems to have good traffic, but I'd imagine there are a lot of lookers and maybe fewer buyers. I'll be there this weekend to take a look.

Unknown said...

So sad😑 I've always wanted to visit the store.

DragonflyRanchOrganics said...

Im so glad I got to meet Evan ony trip to NYC last June. I loved the shop and now wish I had bought something to remember it by. I thought id do that on the next trip😞
Im so sorry they are closing but I wish them both well and I hope that whatever they decide to do brings them across my path again one day. We will all miss you.

EV Grieve said...

Ugh. I accidentally deleted the comment from the folks from Orange County. My apologies!

Anonymous said...

Devastating :(

Caroline! said...

A heart-breaking loss! I was a huge fan of the show and so I have always made a point to visit the store every time I'm in NYC. It just felt like they'd always be there. :(

Blue Bayer Design NYC said...

Yeah they were a big help when I first started. I would go to the tiny spot on E 10th. I got a bunch of display cases that I held onto till I opened my jewelry store on Clinton St. The producers of the Oddities TV show called me about being on the TV show once having been referred by the shop. I met Jesa Johannson ( who played Jena on Girls ) there one eve and we talked for 20 mins. Lots of good memories. I love that shop. It's a loss. I will hopefully continue to support the vision by selling Mike's Oddities markets. But you know when it's time to make a shift it's best to make it own your own terms. I thank them for the years they spent building the legacy of what is a rich cultural movement that many support and enjoy.

Anonymous said...

I used to live on east 10th st.when this store was across the street from the Baths..
At that time the EV was the only place left in NY with any real character...
The cheap eats the cheap rents...interesting orginal people all gone... and replaced by obinioxious rich NYU students...who think nothing of throwing down 25$ for a Bombay martini...but its really made with rot gut gin..

Peter Corrigan said...

Sad to see that Obscura Antiques and Oddities is closing its shop in the East Village. I stumbled on Oddities on the Discovery Channel and Science Channel back when the show began airing and I became a huge fan.I was surprised and delighted when I ran into Evan and then Mike at The Brimfield Antique Show a few years ago and they graciously consented to having their photos taken with this unabashed fan boy.

Unknown said...

What a shame! We visited a couple of years ago - we were in a 4 day visit to NYC from the UK, and specifically made time to come and see this unique little shop. We were hoping to make it back sometime. We wish them all the luck for the future.

tijgertje said...

what a shame.

Jovigirl37 said...

I always wanted to visit the store. I managed to go about 2 years ago. It was very exciting and special. I was planning on going again on my next trip to New York. Already had it down as one of my places to stop. Sadly I will not make it before its closed. Good luck to both owners in your future plans.thank you for sharing so many years of cool and unusual things.

Anonymous said...

Wishing them the best, but honestly the only "genuine human skull" I've ever wanted to own is the one that's attached to my neck! One is enough, thanks.

Anonymous said...

I must say that man is very handsome.

iCoccolins said...

:-( mi dispiace molto ! unico e raro / un museo negozio

HotGrrrrl69 said...

Wow, $250 rent was amazing! What is it now? Also, if we want to stop by when is a good time to catch Mike and Evan at teh store?

Anonymous said...

Come to Philadelphia! Lots of cheaper stores to rent! Easy trip for your okd customers!

raplhy said...

Oooh !! Everything that made the EV is gone ! Only thing that won’t go away is TSP . But after the true punks and the the real deals that made EV what is is are dead and gone ... it will be just another section carved out in manhattan . ;(

Kaiya666 said...

So sad about this. I was hoping when i finally made it to NYC to come to the store.

Anonymous said...

I moved away from the East Village three months ago and the number of heartbreaking closures I’ve seen in the months since I’ve moved is truly heartbreaking.

Honoria said...

Howdy neighbor! I'm still on that block and remember how it used to be.
On my first night in my new place in this scary new city (1992), I was lured in by a taxidermied badger in the window, holding a lamp aloft like Diogenes. I was wandering among the anatomical specimens and strange medical equipment and a tiny redheaded person toddled over to me imperiously and held up her arms, and I finished my shop visit with a personal tiny tour guide on my hip, and I knew I would live here forever.

Honoria said...

I'm still on that block and remember how it used to be.
On my first night in my new place in my scary new city (1992), I was lured in by a taxidermied badger in the window, holding a lamp aloft like Diogenes. I was wandering among the anatomical specimens and strange medical equipment and a tiny redheaded person toddled over to me imperiously and held up her arms, and I finished my shop visit with a personal tour guide on my hip, and I knew I would live here forever.

Unknown said...

I am thankful to have had to pleasure of visiting the shop this October prior to the closing. She was very gracious and I loved everything there. I loved their show and it was awesome to be able to observe and appreciate the oddities. Thanks for the picture and t-shirt!!!

Unknown said...

I just learned of this shop today and am so sad to hear they closed.

Come get your oddities fix on at Iggies Curiosity Shoppe in Midland Park, NJ! We're only a short trip from Manhattan out route 4 and up route 208.

Hours: Thu-Sat 1-5pm and by appointment
Text/call us at 833-IGGIES9 and follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/knellenneka/

Unknown said...

nooooooo! i’ve been waiting and i finally. have a chance. you can’t close!!!!!!@

Rebecca56 said...

Watching on discovery plus how unfortunate but there are many layers to our existence,and we have to grow. Enjoy your world's,

Unknown said...

I remember looking forward to every single episode. I found Edgar to be woderfully ecentric. Good luck and best wishes to all of you unique individuals xo

SheitlQueen said...

I just discovered this show and have been binge watching it. So sorry to hear the store has closed.

Ryan said...

I am so sad to find out the store closed, however understand. I just discovered the show on Discovery+. I have been binge watching. I wanted to come see the store and visit the city. I didn't realize hoe late to the party I am, until now.

HotGrrrrl69 said...

Ryan- Im glad to hear it is still playing on Discovery. The guy with the death masks and 2 heady baby from the episode Killer Queen, went on to write a book called Contemporary Krampus his name is Mike Drake. The Co-owner of the store, Mike Zohn is active on Istagram and his posts are fun and interesting.