Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Farewell to NYC Convenience Gifts (and the hot nuts)

After a quick 17-month run, NYC Convenience Gifts has called it a day on the SE corner of 14th Street and Fourth Avenue. (Thanks to EVG reader Doug for the photo and tip!

The sprawling shop burst onto the scene in May 2024 with a little bit of everything — officially licensed NYC merch, vaping gear, ice cream, luggage … and eventually, hot nuts. Basically, a souvenir shop that looked like it missed a turn and ended up some 30 blocks south of Port Authority. 

And for the record: despite persistent neighborhood lore, those mannequins in the window were not the inspiration for the kids in "Weapons."

2 comments:

hywel dda said...

I'm surprised it lasted 2 years. I did a walk-through when it opened & found it wildly overpriced. Perfect for Times Square, I couldn't fathom how it ended up on 14th St. Is Union Square a tourist "must see" now? Is there a "Squares of NYC" tour? The random appearance of pop-up sublets inside (Hot Nuts etc.) was a early indicator that is was a struggling business & I could hear the clock ticking. (Not the "clock" on the south side of 14 St.. That one doesn't tick.)

Sarah said...

Well, it sucked, but I sure hope they can line up a replacement soon--that space is way too big to be left standing empty.