An EVG reader let us know that the new psychic's space opened this week at 193 E. Fourth St. just east of Avenue A.
The location has more to offer than the original "psychic coming soon" signage led us to believe. Aside from spiritual advising, the professionals here are also offering life coaching. (No word at the moment what their lifetime coaching record is.) Also, walk-ins welcome.
During the weekend, EVG reader Alexis noticed some activity in the retail space that Bikes, By George! previously occupied on Fourth Street just east of Avenue A… a sign then arrived in the front window noting "Psychic coming soon."
As we reported earlier this summer, a rent hike forced George Philbert to close his bike shop at 193 E. Fourth St. just east of Avenue A. (The landlord doubled the rent, according to George's partner Dash).
However, after a short break, George is back with a pop-up shop of sorts. According to EVG regular Greg Masters, George sets up each day on the sidewalk on the north side of East 11th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue (by the school playground).
Before East Fourth Street, George had a shop on East 12th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A from 1979 to 2008. George has been repairing bikes in the city since 1970.
George Philbert has closed up his bike shop at 193 E. Fourth St. just east of Avenue A.
He removed his sign on Sunday…
[Photo by Greg Masters]
He has said that a rent hike forced him out. One reader said that Philbert, who has been repairing bikes around the city since 1970, will look for a new shop once he returns from a vacation.
The listing at Bond says that a restaurant is OK for the space. The asking rent is $3,750 for 340 square feet.
As we noted earlier last week, a rent hike is forcing George Philbert to close his bike shop at 193 E. Fourth St. at the end of the month.
Several readers have noted that the for rent sign has arrived in the storefront just east of Avenue A.
The listing at Bond, which appears to show a different business in the space, notes that a restaurant is OK for the space. The asking rent is $3,750 for 340 square feet.
After working in bike shops for 10 years, George finally opened his own place in 1980 on East 12th Street. A rent hike saw him move to his current location at 193 E. Fourth St. just east of Avenue A in 2008.
Several EVG Facebook friends have passed along the news that Bikes, By George! is closing at the end of the month. Apparently there's a rent increase, and proprietor George Philbert can't afford the new lease. Friends say that George is uncertain if he will be able to reopen in a different location.
After working in several bike shops when he arrived in NYC in 1970, George finally opened his own place in 1980 on East 12th Street. A rent hike saw him move to his current location at 193 E. Fourth St. just east of Avenue A in 2008. You can read more about George in this article from The Villager.
Last Thursday around 7 p.m., a reader told us that several ambulances and fire trucks were outside Bikes By George on East Fourth Street. "I could see a paramedic performing CPR on George's son. Hoping to see a post later the he's okay..."
George's son, Dominic Philbert, who worked for his dad since he was 16, died that night. He was 43. We don't know any more details at this time.
The shop was closed Friday.
A sign on the store's front window provides information about the memorial service.
Dominic later told Bob Arihood that he gave a man — a paid actor — $25 for a bike. The man told Dominic that he had lost his job and needed money to feed his kids. NBC did not show this exchange between Dominic and the actor.
Thanks to a reader for passing along this link to Sunday's "Dateline NBC, in which Chris Hansen blows the lid off the stolen-bicycle industry or something after selling an alleged hot bike for $25 at Bikes By George on East Fourth Street.
Per the "Dateline" promo, "it's the most explosive confrontation of Hansen's career." Ugh. Basically, Hansen confronts Dominic Philbert, George's son, about having bought a stolen bike. And the cameras keep rolling as Dominic becomes increasingly agitated and menacing, uttering the memorable "God does not like ugly, man" several times. It's local gotcha TV news at it's worst. (And this is supposed to be the network's signature broadcast for NBC News?)
"Dominic , contrary to what he says on the tape , told us that he did give a man , a paid actor, $25 for the the bicycle . He claims accurately that the tape shows nothing of this transaction . Dominic told us that the actor told him that he had lost his job and that he needed money to feed his kids . Dominic claims that he purchased the bicycle to help the guy who seemed to have some serious financial difficulties."
