Today is the last day for the Essex Card Shop before a move up the block

Essex Card Shop closes after today at its longtime home at 39 Avenue A... ahead of a move less than a block away to between Third Street and Fourth Street...



As previously noted, the eclectic shop is moving one block to the north to the now-vacant storefront at 47 Avenue A (the former Essex 99-Cent Store owned by the same folks).

We also noted how much we liked the shop's sign and pleasantly cluttered exterior.

The storefront has also caught the fancy of local artists, including Delphine le Goff ...



... and Joel Holland ...



As for the sign, a shop regular says that the owners are keeping the sign, but it likely won't be hanging above the new location.

Essex Card Shop is moving to a new space on Avenue A

Essex Card Shop, home to one of the neighborhood's greatest business signs — film developing! art supplies! luggage! — is on the move... they are in the process of relocating here on Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street ...



... one block to the north, where the short-lived and currently closed Essex 99-Cent Store (same owners!) was for about nine months...



And here's another look at the Essex Card Shop sign from the personal collection of EVG...

'Desperate Endeavors' leads to the Essex Card Shop on Avenue A

Essex Card Shop on Avenue A is arguably the best mom-and-pop shop in the neighborhood. And today, its owner, Jayant Patel, celebrates the theatrical release of a movie based on his life. Patel serves as the executive producer of "Desperate Endeavors," which is playing at the Quad Cinema on East 13th Street.

The movie is adapted from Patel's 1991 book, "Seeking Home: An Immigrant's Realization." A little about the plot:

Derived from a true story, the film "Desperate Endeavors" revolves around the misadventures of newly arrived immigrant Ram Patel to NYC in 1973. Attempting to extricate himself from a self-dug hole, 'Ram' encounters more obstacles than he can count, and ultimately finds a remedy to his numerous problems by encountering a spiritual adviser, legendary 'Dada Bhagwan' played by Bollywood star Gulshan Grover. Also stars Michael Madsen, Robert Clohessy, Ismail Bashey & Samrat Chakrabarti.

If you've been in the store at any time in recent weeks, then you likely received a flyer for the movie. Several readers told me about the movie... apparently this word-of-mouth is how the book ever got into the hands of a filmmaker — through a customer in the film business who heard about the book and passed it along...

I look forward to seeing the film... even though I may know how it ends...

And now, a way to support a local business and buy (allegedly) the greatest pen ever

We turn the floor over to EV Grieve contributor Dave on 7th for a moment...

I just wanted to take this opportunity to further spread my message of the Fisher Space Pen, which I was able to purchase for $21.95 (a good price) at the Essex Card Shop, a great local merchant.

I recently lost my first one after many years of daily use. There is a joke that the Americans spent millions on creating a pen and the Soviets used pencils. It's better than a pencil. It never breaks down, it fits in your pocket. I'd buy you one if I knew you.

Woo! Free pens on Dave!