tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post3903466803824602690..comments2024-03-28T09:32:34.632-04:00Comments on EV Grieve: EVG repost: When the Gap moved into the East VillageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-88952912915792274532012-04-21T18:19:04.215-04:002012-04-21T18:19:04.215-04:00@Jeremiah
Yeah, but unfortunately I also mean that...@Jeremiah<br />Yeah, but unfortunately I also mean that there isn't much left of the neighborhood, because literally that's just the way it is, aside from the chains. The debate about the chains is complex as to how it pertains to class and capital, and still only an element of gentrification. On the one hand Subway is everywhere, but for many people that's what they can afford around here. There used to be Blimpie, but they disappeared. Starbucks, I think that they will stick around. Their items are more expensive and attract a different crowd than Subway.<br /><br />Also, long time EV business owners and long time East Villagers who own property, have always owned property, use the gentrification of the past as justification for business ventures today. They also like to point the finger at the chains yet they support the proliferation of expensive restaurants and clubs under the guise that they are small local businesses. I am trying to say too much, but primarily that the gentrification of the past is nothing like it is now, this is beyond gentrification. <br /><br />Also, East Village business owners who have some kind of asset, particularly businesses with liquor licenses, or businesses that are a brand, as well as building and land owners, use the gentrification of the past as justification for turning an old restaurant into a sleek upscale lounge, or a piece of land into a luxury condo building with apartments going from 3 to 6 million. These people always say we saw it coming, that gentrification started a long time ago. People like this say that they've lived in the area for thirty, forty years, they give money to the different non-profits and arts organizations as a way of shutting people up and making them seem like they are for preserving the neighborhood and supportive of artists, when they are actually doing the opposite.Cookiepusshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04788301796178375047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-46799690118386141802012-04-21T09:23:39.156-04:002012-04-21T09:23:39.156-04:00I'm with Anonymous @ 12:24.
You nostalgia-ho...I'm with Anonymous @ 12:24. <br /><br />You nostalgia-hounds conveniently forget that your own presence in the EV represented "gentrification" to another, earlier group of residents. <br /><br />To regard oneself as the exception is the rule.Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-90983825321951786392012-04-20T21:18:17.164-04:002012-04-20T21:18:17.164-04:00i love this historical check-in, but i never minde...i love this historical check-in, but i never minded the Gap. it's nothing compared to the Starbucks, Subways, and 7-11's, which are everywhere and aim for omnipresence. Gaps at least space themselves out, instead of one every other block. <br /><br />i think that's part of the difference that Cookiepuss is talking about--it used to be we had some chains here and there, and now it's an onslaught. <br /><br />the other chains also replace local businesses--Starbucks puts cafes out of business, 7-11 kills bodegas, and Subways, eh...but i wonder where do people shop for clothes if you can't afford expensive indie boutiques and you're too old (and employed) for thrift store stuff?<br /><br />not to defend the Gap here, but i've been thinking about this chain thing lately.Jeremiah Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11791516443125872364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-77178865795205807622012-04-20T12:34:31.565-04:002012-04-20T12:34:31.565-04:00The GAP was the beginning..Starbucks are really ok...The GAP was the beginning..Starbucks are really ok--I always hang out there and they allow people to use the facilities..the 2nd Ave. Starbucks is a cool place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-28901275376597009222012-04-20T12:24:20.156-04:002012-04-20T12:24:20.156-04:00400 yrs ago manhattoes occupied the east village, ...400 yrs ago manhattoes occupied the east village, you folks gentrified it from them. gimme a break.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-85564623527559546012012-04-20T12:02:29.115-04:002012-04-20T12:02:29.115-04:00I prefer the Gap to Blue & Cream. A much mor...I prefer the Gap to Blue & Cream. A much more horrifying sign of the times than the stupid Gap.<br /><br />At least back in the day we still had some places to hang onto, but now there isn't much left.<br /><br />It wasn't really until luxury decontrol (which allowed landlords to charge market rate rent when they got the existing rent above $2000) an the zoning changes in lower manhattan, that everybody tried to capitalize, East Villagers were no exception.<br /><br />People always make the point that gentrification started a long time ago. Since the eighties people have been saying that the neighborhood is on a path towards gentrification. <br /><br />I don't think that the gentrification of the past is anything like this. I have never seen anything like this. People who have moved out of the neighborhood ,or who own real estate, or who have businesses that started out in the area but then multiplied to other locations in NYC and even gone national, tend to cite the gentrification of the eighties. Bullshit. No contest.Cookiepusshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04788301796178375047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-52152707539149005982012-04-20T11:18:46.245-04:002012-04-20T11:18:46.245-04:00It think both the St. Mark's Gap and the neigh...It think both the St. Mark's Gap and the neighborhood influenced each other. The St. Mark's Gap may have continued to usher in gentrification, but when I visited the store in the late 90s (when Gap was still a dominant retail presence), it was pretty scrappy and still using the old logo from the 80s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-15897503390436558532012-04-20T11:10:05.222-04:002012-04-20T11:10:05.222-04:007-11 opened Wednesday. Can't believe you didn&...7-11 opened Wednesday. Can't believe you didn't report that after all those 7-11 posts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-85158835349655066462012-04-20T10:46:21.121-04:002012-04-20T10:46:21.121-04:00Simply, thanks for this EV. This is exactly the ty...Simply, thanks for this EV. This is exactly the type of history we need.<br /><br /><br /><br />And Levon:+(((...DrBOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179469265158025584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5694390946037511355.post-26150297545328062292012-04-20T08:44:18.668-04:002012-04-20T08:44:18.668-04:00Back in 1991 or 1992 (so long ago, can't remem...Back in 1991 or 1992 (so long ago, can't remember) back in my rough and tumble poverty days, I got a job there. I lasted three days because my boyfriend visited me there and yelled at one of the workers for treating me like a slave. Hahahah! I quit the next day I think. <br /><br />I had not hope of lasting there anyway. Every morning the manager would open a huge binder and ask each of us, "What are you wearing that's Gap?" They wanted us to be wearing some Gap clothes every day. I was so poor, I asked if I could have an advance so I could buy some of their clothes to wear while on the floor. No dice. <br /><br />It's crazy what kind of memories were jogged from this post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com