Bad vibrations: Former Babeland space for lease on the Lower East Side

Photos by Stacie Joy 

A for-lease sign hangs now on the vacant storefront at 94 Rivington St. between Ludlow and Orchard ...

This is the former home of Babeland, a nearly 30-year tenant here. The sex toy shop closed on May 25. Per ownership: "We have not been able to update the terms of our lease and will be leaving this longtime store location." 

You can visit the outpost in Park Slope... or Pike Street in Seattle. The founders sold the business to Good Vibrations, another sex toy franchise, in 2017. 

As for the original LES outpost: 

From Babeland's founding years, we have loved bringing our sex-positive and feisty vibe to the neighborhood and all its babes, customers, friends, and neighbors. Thank you — and all the staff members who have helped us serve you and answer your sex and product questions — for an unforgettable 27 years. 

It earned a reputation as a safe, inclusive place with a knowledgeable sales team to browse for toys — free of the sleaze of a tacky XXX shop or the shame of a 1970s Catholic school.

Said one Babeland customer in an email to EVG: "So many people explored their sexuality and needs here, so many teaching events and parties, plus a supportive staff (at least in the early years). Where do people go now in the neighborhood?"

Babeland's Pink October

From the EV Grieve inbox

Babeland is partnering with the Young Survival Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to helping breast cancer survivors, to raise money for their programs throughout the month of October. Over a quarter of a million women under the age of 40 have breast cancer and they face higher mortality rates, fertility issues and the possibility of early menopause.

During Pink October, Babeland is dedicating 10% of the sales of a select group of products to the Young Survival Coalition. Among the toys featured are the popular Form 2 and Rabbit Pearl vibrators, the Rose G-spotter, and a Candy G-string. The makers of our most popular personal lubricant, Sliquid, created a new flavored lube, Pink Lemonade just for this fundraiser. As an added incentive, customers receive a FREE Babeland Buzz mini-vibe with the purchase of any of these toys. A full list of the toys can be seen here.

Babeland’s Come for a Cause program is our way of giving back and letting our customers help support organizations with missions that are compatible with Babeland’s mission and values. So far in 2010, Babeland raised more than $10,000 for grist.org, a “beacon in the smog” environmental news website, and more than $17,000 for SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, among other things.