Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Essex Card Shop owner Muhammad Aslam is ready for the back-to-school season. (Or he's starting a journal!)

The shop is at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street...

Essex Card Shop robbed on Avenue A

Photo by Salim 

On Thursday afternoon around 3, a man walked into Essex Card Shop, 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street, pulled a gun, and demanded the money from the register, according to owner Muhammad Aslam. 

Aslam, who was not in the shop then, said the man left with $300. Police cordoned off the storefront for several hours and took possession of the shop's surveillance footage of the robbery. 

Sources tell us that the suspect has pulled similar jobs in the neighborhood. An official description of the suspect has not been released. 

If you're a fan of Essex Card Shop, consider stopping by over the weekend. They could use the business (the T-shirts are cool) and moral support.

How to tote around the Essex Card Shop with you

Photo by Stacie Joy

The folks at Essex Card Shop, 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street, continue to unveil some new merch... owner Muhammad Aslam showed us the new tote bags ($24.99) the other day. 

Like the t-shirts, it features an illustration by Joel Holland with the signage from the previous storefront at 39 Avenue A.  

Get a little of the old Essex Card Shop at the new Essex Card Shop

Top photo by Stacie Joy

Essex Card Shop, 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street, recently unveiled some new merch in the form of an Essex Card Shop t-shirt ... in which owner Muhammad Aslam was happy to model for us.

The t-shirt ($24.99) features an illustration by Joel Holland showing the shop's signage when it was one block to the south at 39 Avenue A. (A local news site declared this "one of the neighborhood's greatest business signs.")

It's a quality t-shirt and an easy way to support the shop, which reopened last September after a devastating fire. 

And check out Joel Holland's book of classic NYC storefronts here.

A look back at the devastating fire that destroyed Essex Card Shop 1 year ago today

One year ago today, a fire destroyed Essex Card Shop on Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

Thankfully, there weren't any injuries, and the fire was contained to the shop located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers.

However dire it looked while assessing the damage inside the storefront, owner Muhammad Aslam and his family vowed to return, and with the help of generous residents, were able to reopen on Sept. 6. 

Here, Aslam, and his daughter, Mehnaz Noreen, the retail sales manager, on reopening day...

On this anniversary day, the family expressed their thanks to the neighborhood for being able to return via a tweet from Muhammad's daughter Saba ...

This was heartbreaking and an emotional time for me & my family. You all gave us strength & supported us. Your kind words kept our heads held high and we were able to persevere & have Essex Card Shop back up & running ✌️☮️ Love you all ♾️ https://t.co/kypxdieFRK

— Saba (@Essex_Card_Shop) January 10, 2023

EVG was the only media outlet to document the rebuild and return of Essex Card Shop. You can find the archive of the rebuild, as reported by EVG contributor Stacie Joy in 2022, right here.

At the grand reopening of Essex Card Shop

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This morning saw the grand reopening of Essex Card Shop. 

As you know, the storefront at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street was destroyed in a fire this past Jan. 10. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by and found a happy owner, Muhammad Aslam, and his daughter, Mehnaz Noreen, the retail sales manager...

Some locals were there to support the shop's first day back and pick up some office or school supplies, greeting cards, etc.

Stacie also had the chance to check out a fully stocked store...

Because people will ask: Longtime manager Jayant "Jay" Patel is currently traveling in India and will return soon.

Reminders: Essex Card Shop reopens today!

Photo by Stacie Joy

As we first reported on Thursday, Essex Card Shop reopens today (Sept. 6!) at 10 a.m.

The new awning arrived over the weekend ahead of the big day here at 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street.

A fire destroyed the storefront this past Jan. 10. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Filling the shelves as Essex Card Shop moves closer toward a reopening on Avenue A (Aug. 2)

• Cleaning out and preparing to rebuild Essex Card Shop on Avenue A (Feb. 22)

• Assessing the fire damage at Essex Card Shop (Jan. 13)

• Information about a crowdfunding campaign to help the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop (Jan. 11) 

Essex Card Shop reopens on TUESDAY

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Signage went up early last evening... announcing the grand reopening of Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A this Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The store opens at 10 a.m. ...

... for the first time since a fire destroyed the business this past Jan. 10. 

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.

Filling the shelves as Essex Card Shop moves closer toward a reopening on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy

Workers are busy restocking the shelves at the fully renovated Essex Card Shop, which was gutted by a fire in early January at 47 Avenue A.

Owner Muhammad Aslam (below) provided EVG contributor Stacie Joy with an interior update the other day. He said he will be open before Sept.1, and he is looking toward mid-to-end of August. 

As of late last week, he was waiting on several items, including a new ATM, FedEx system and store signage...

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.  

Supporters of Essex Card Shop have helped it raise more than $91,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

Essex Card Shop getting closer to reopening on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The build-out continues inside Essex Card Shop, the business gutted by a fire in early January at 47 Avenue A.

Owner Muhammad Aslam (above) provided EVG contributor Stacie Joy with an interior update the other day. As you can see, the new floor, walls and ceiling are all in place... with workers starting on the shelving phase ... 

Aslam is hopeful that the longtime family-owned business can be up and running again in three to four weeks.

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.  

Supporters of Essex Card Shop have helped it raise more than $91,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

New storefront and interior reveal at the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop on Avenue A

Photos yesterday by Stacie Joy 

Workers have taken down the construction plywood from outside Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A ... revealing a new front door and windows...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy got an interior update as well... as the renovations are shaping up here at the shop destroyed by a fire in early January...

Supporters of the business have helped it raise more than $90,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.  

Essex Card Shop is now in its reconstruction phase on Avenue A

An "Under Construction" banner went up on Friday at the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A.

This marks the next phase of the reopening for the longtime East Village business that a fire destroyed on Jan. 10.

In an email, Saba Aslam, the daughter of owner Muhammad Aslam, told me they are finishing some interior demolition. The Aslam family has a meeting with the contractors in early April to better understand how long the reconstruction process will take.

The photos below, via Saba's sister Mehnaz, show the current state of the interior...  

We also asked Saba about Jayant "Jay" Patel, the shop's longtime manager: "Jay is safe and well. He is living with his family in New Jersey!"

Meanwhile, supporters of the business have helped it raise more than $90,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.  

Cleaning out and preparing to rebuild Essex Card Shop on Avenue A

Workers began cleaning out the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop late last week at 47 Avenue A. (The top two photos are courtesy of owner Muhammad Aslam's family).

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by on Friday...

The family is hopeful that the reconstruction process can start this week in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street.  

Unfortunately, we're told that the Essex Card Shop's insurance hardly covers anything — roughly $18,000, which is less than the cost of one of the store's copy machines. Meanwhile, the building's insurance will only cover certain parts of the reconstruction. 

The New York Times reported that the estimated loss was around $300,000; that the "aisles and its basement were bulging with inventory."

To date, supporters of the business have helped it raise nearly $90,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

Muhammad Aslam continues to express his gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community — residents and businesses alike...

A two-alarm fire destroyed the shop on Jan. 10. Authorities later charged a 13-year-old boy with second-degree arson.

A benefit for the Essex Card Shop

Art of the old Essex Card Shop storefront by Leah Tinari 

Goodnight Sonny is hosting a benefit tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 1) evening from 5-8 for the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop, 47 Avenue A. 

Local artist Leah Tinari is organizing the event. All proceeds (plus tips)  from the three hours will help rebuild the longtime Card Shop, which was destroyed in a fire on Jan. 10. (There is also a GoFundMe campaign to support the family-owned shop cover expenses and lost income.) 

As previously reported, a 13-year-old boy had been charged with second-degree arson. 

Goodnight Sonny is at 134 First Ave. on the NE corner at St. Mark's Place.

More details about the fire that destroyed the Essex Card Shop

Photo by Stacie Joy

More details are emerging about the two-alarm fire that destroyed Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A on Jan. 10.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy first reported last Thursday that a 13-year-old boy had been charged with second-degree arson.

Julie Besonen filed a piece for the Times yesterday about the longtime business and its meaning to the community. (More on this in a moment.)

Besonen has details about the moments when the shop's management first smelled the smoke...

It was a typical Monday afternoon at the Essex Card Shop, an encyclopedic stationery store ... Business had been steady. Jayant Patel, the 80-year-old manager, had just noticed a teenager wandering around, before being hustled out by an older woman, perhaps his grandmother. Now the store was empty, the dutiful manager at his post, behind the counter.

Within minutes, however, Mr. Patel smelled smoke and saw flames in the back. He seized a broom and tried to snuff the fire out. It happened so fast that there was no chance to grab the fire extinguisher, he said. Soon, Muhammad Aslam, the shop's owner, arrived to find his loyal friend struggling alone to put out the fire. They called 911.

Meanwhile, Stacie received a copy of the Fire Incident Report, which listed the cause of the fire as "Incendiary — Combustible Material." Here's more from the report:

Examination showed fire originated in the subject premises, on the first floor, in the northwest section of the store, approximately eight feet from the north wall, approximately eight feet from the west wall, approximately three feet above finished floor level, in combustible material (stationery supplies), due to the introduction of an open flame (lighter). 

Fire extended throughout the northwest section of the store (floor, ceiling, walls and contents throughout). Fire further extended throughout the rest of the store (ceiling, walls and contents throughout). Fire further extended out the front store window to the exterior of the building and the store awning. Fire was thereto confined and extinguished.

The fire spared the neighboring businesses between Third Street and Fourth Street — Exit9 and Downtown Yarns.

As for Essex Card Shop, Aslam estimated the loss, including inventory, to be around $300,000, the Times reports, noting the "aisles and its basement were bulging with inventory."

To date, supporters of the business have helped it raise more than $70,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

Besonen has more about what the place meant to residents in the piece titled "Essex Card Shop Was Destroyed by a Fire. Its Customers Might Save It." (Disclosure: The article in the Times includes a quote from Stacie.)

Downtown Yarns reopens today

Photos by Stacie Joy

Downtown Yarns reopens for business today at 45 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street  ... two weeks after a fire destroyed Essex Card Shop next door at 47 Avenue A on Jan. 10.

While the fire mostly spared owner Leti Ruiz's small shop, she spent these past two weeks airing out Downtown Yarns... thanks in part to industrial air scrubbers that the building's landlord provided... 

Downtown Yarns is open from noon to 7 p.m. All yarn is 10-percent off through Feb. 1. You can follow the shop's Instagram account for updates.

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy first reported, a 13-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree arson. Officials and other sources said that the teen was seen leaving Essex Card Shop minutes before management smelled smoke. Investigators were able to pull photos/videos from the store surveillance camera. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Downtown Yarns hopes to reopen in a week