Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
For the first time in 32 years, the storefront at 160 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street is no longer home to Gizmo.
As we've been reporting (here and here), the sewing supply shop was not offered a lease renewal by their landlord (this on top of rent increases that made it increasingly difficult to stay here anyway).
Rosa Malmed and Hossein Amid were ready to sign a lease at 319 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. However, at the 11th hour, they learned that the building had been sold and no lease would be granted to them.
So, over the past few days, they packed up their full-to-the-brim shop and placed everything in storage.
Rosa thanked everyone who called and messaged... and stopped by the shop.
She and Hossein haven't found a space yet, but they hope to start looking again after taking a few days to breathe and destress from putting everything in storage.
Hossein will continue to make house calls for sewing machine repairs.
As we've reported, the couple wants to continue in the neighborhood: "A small storefront, with easy accessibility for differently-abled patrons."
Contact info for them: (212) 477-2773 or email: gizmocorp@aol.com.
NOOOOO!!!! 💔💔💔 This has been my sewing shop for 15+ years😩 Hossain is wonderful! I have kept their contact info and will use it! Praying they find a perfect spot in the hood!!! 🙏🏽🩷🙏🏽🩷🙏🏽🩷🙏🏽
ReplyDeleteSo very sad. Sending good vibes that you find a new space.
ReplyDeleteOutrageous that Carlina Rivera said nothing, did nothing
ReplyDeleteThey are the nicest people, and I hope that they will find the right space at an affordable rent as soon as possible. We miss you already!!
ReplyDeleteAND maybe someone could tell Carlina Rivera that this couple are her constituents!
Rivera's office was *completely* clueless when asked about Rivera's ability to offer any help to this valuable local business.
Re Carlina: It's par for the course. Over the years, City Council has talked about measures to save small businesses, but has done nothing of substance. So we get chain stores...fewer and fewer authentic shops...and empty storefronts.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Carlina Rivera, she made it
ReplyDeletereal clear, once she got your vote, that
like most politicians, she is here to serve
the big money developers. Stop voting
for her!
@2:47PM: I see Carlina Rivera as the human equivalent of a vacant storefront.
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is Carlina expected to do? This property is privately owned.
ReplyDeletecan't imagine how hard this is for them; wishing them a peaceful interlude and a speedy, warmly welcomed return!
ReplyDeleteAs for Carlina Rivera... could she have stopped this? No, of course not.. but could she have advocated for a small business in her district? You bet she could have. Gizmo is a poser example of what a small business is... raise the issue! sigh.
ReplyDeleteSame shit with the East River Park razing ... she was silent about it until the current plan proved to be the only choice. She hid behind the Con-Ed plant being a "security zone" and didn't engage people who had very real concerns about it. It's too late now. The park is gone. Will we get a nice park again? Yes. But the trees will take decades to recover.
Really disappointing.