New signage and an expansion for Dual Specialty Store on 1st Avenue

Activity this morning at Dual Specialty Store, 91 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

Workers are in the process of putting in new signage here... (and it is now going by Duals! Unless that s is a typo...)



And it appears that they are opening a Dual outpost — selling herbs and teas — in the empty space (formerly a spa) upstairs...



Will check back in on this later.

Dual, one of the more unique and essential shops around, carries a wide variety of bulk Indian spices, herbs, groceries and beer.

Learn more about the 32-year-old shop here.

Dual Specialty Store is back open

[Photo from last night]

Several readers, both in the comments and via email, have noted that Dual Specialty Store reopened this week at 91 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. (They had been closed the past week or so.)

The shop, which carries a wide variety of bulk Indian spices, herbs, groceries and beer, is open from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. daily.

And check out this photo essay of the shop via Gudrun Georges right here.

H/T Vinny & O

At Dual Specialty Store

Dual Specialty Store is the subject of East Village-based photographer Gudren Georges' latest photo essay.

Gudren shared some of her images with me from the 30-year-old shop at 91 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

As Gudren writes about the family-run business from proprietor Abdul Patwary, a native of Bangladesh:

One can find anything food and health related here: from spices to herbal teas to henna, perfume oil and toothpaste; fresh southeast Asian ingredients such as turmeric and green chiles; beer from all over the world too... Expert advise is available for free.

In 2005, a fire wiped out the shop. Patwary, with the help of his family and the local community, was able to keep the business alive. Here's Patwary talking about it in a 2012 interview with The Local:

It was a very bad year, but we rebuilt. The damage was bad so we had to throw away all our products. I had insurance. All my family helped out after the fire so we were able to survive. It was my brother, all my sons, my nephew, my daughter, my wife, my father. Everyone came to help and work here. The community helped too. People showed us how much they appreciated our work by helping. There was a lady next door who helped us set up a tent outside with spices and herbs while we rebuilt.

Gudren reports that the store is going strong — so much so that Patwary is in the process of opening a second location in Williamsburg.

Find more photos here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A spin through Downtown Yarns on Avenue A

Favorite East Village places: Ink on A