Monday's parting shot

The last outpost of Ricky's, located on Broadway between 12th Street and 13th Street, recently closed... and workers today were removing remaining items (essential work?).

During its heyday, there were nearly two dozen Ricky's in the city, but the kitschy retailer started to close storefronts in recent years. The Broadway outpost had been selling pandemic-related cleaning products this spring.

Photo by Derek Berg.

Doctor, doctor: Medical office set for this 3rd Avenue storefront

Renovations continue at 111 Third Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street.

The DOB permits posted on the site note that the renovations are for medical offices...



With the arrival of a medical facility, you'll have to look elsewhere for a costume of a "Stranger Things" character: No. 111 served as a Spirit Halloween pop-up shop the past two years.

Until January 2018, this space was home to a Ricky's.

Report: Ricky's will be down to 2 NYC locations

In recent years, the two East Village locations of Ricky's — Third Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street and First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street have closed.

Now comes word that the chain selling accessories, cosmetics and novelties will close all but two outposts.

Per the Post:

Ricky’s has been shrinking at a heart-stopping pace of late. It’s down to just four locations from 13 in the fall. At its peak just four years ago, Ricky’s operated 29 locations, all in the New York area except for an outpost in Miami.

The last two storefronts are at 830 Broadway near Union Square and 590 Broadway.

What happened?

If Ricky’s meets a sticky end, retail experts will partly blame soaring Manhattan rents and stiffening competition with Amazon, as well as an increasingly crowded market when it comes to Ricky’s bread and butter: cosmetics, skin care and hair products.

The company started as Ricky Love in 1989.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ricky's is closing on 3rd Avenue

The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

It's never too early to think about Halloween this July

The former Ricky's space on Third Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street will serve as a pop-up Spirit Halloween store. As you can see, the signage is up!

And the place is already fully stocked. Here's an early look at the costumes ... Pennywise!



... and Jeff the Killer and the Grim Reaper to help sooth your jangled nerves...

Last days for Ricky's on 3rd Avenue

As noted back on Jan. 16, the Ricky's location on Third Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street is closing. In case you missed the signs in the window, Sunday is the last day.

Ricky’s NYC president, Michael Long, told the Commercial Observer last fall that the chain is closing "underperforming stores" and that the company is now profitable. Apparently the East Village isn't so profitable: The Ricky's on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street closed without any notice in March 2016.

Still, there's a Ricky's set to open on Broadway near 12th Street.

The mini chain (there are 18 locations) selling accessories, cosmetics and novelties started as Ricky Love in 1989.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ricky's is closing on 3rd Avenue

The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

Ricky's is closing on 3rd Avenue

The Ricky's location on Third Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street is closing this month. (H/T Goggla!)

Some products at the accessories, cosmetics and novelties store are up to 90 percent off, per the sales signage.

While this location is closing, there is a Ricky's opening on Broadway next to the Strand at 12th Street...



The Ricky's on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street closed without any notice in March 2016. The one in Chelsea on 23rd Street near Eighth Avenue closed last May while the Union Square location followed suit in November.

Ricky’s NYC president, Michael Long, told the Commercial Observer last fall that the chain is closing "underperforming stores" and that the company is now profitable.

Ricky's started as Ricky Love in 1989. Today, Ricky's has 17 locations around NYC and one in Miami. (The number was 30 at the time of the First Avenue closure.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

Hunan Slurp Shop coming to former Ricky's space on 1st Avenue

The coming-soon signage is up at 112 First Ave., where Hunan Slurp Shop will presumably be serving rice noodles here between Seventh Street and Sixth Street...



Not sure who's behind the venture just yet. (Has a familiar ring to Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop in the Gotham West Market.)

The retail listing for No. 112 mentioned a garden. So perhaps the Slurp Shop will have seating out there.

The storefront was previously a Ricky's, which closed in April 2016.

Before Ricky's, the space was home until 2007 to Miracle Grill. The restaurant's garden space was where the residential building is now at 92 E. Seventh St. (No. 92, which was the salon connected to Ricky's, appears to still be for rent as a separate storefront.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Miracle Grill garden not-so-suddenly looks like a condo

Former Miracle Grill space on the market

One restaurant, two buildings

Miracle (Grills): A Ricky's and not an eatery opening on First Avenue

The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

The 1st Avenue Ricky's is now empty

A "store closed" sign arrived on the door at Ricky's at 112 First Ave. last Wednesday. And now workers have emptied out the storefront here between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street...



The location has also been scrubbed from the Ricky's website.



There hasn't been any acknowledgment of the closure on the Ricky's website or social media properties. We reached out to the corporate office. We'll update if/when they respond.

The location opened here in October 2011.

The accessories, cosmetics and novelties store, founded in 1989, has nearly 30 locations around NYC (and now in Miami), including one on Third Avenue between East 13th Street and East 14th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Miracle Grill garden not-so-suddenly looks like a condo

Former Miracle Grill space on the market

One restaurant, two buildings

Miracle (Grills): A Ricky's and not an eatery opening on First Avenue

The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

The Ricky's on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

The Ricky's on First Avenue near East Seventh Street looks to be closed... Aside from the sign on the front door saying "store closed" ...



...there are boxes in the front window and throughout the store...



And it seems like an odd time for, say, taking inventory right before a big sales time like St. Patrick's Day...

Party your #shamrocks off with our #partykit. 🍀🍻 #rickysnyc pic.twitter.com/7RpMDkqlWC

— Ricky's NYC (@Rickys_NYC) March 15, 2016

The salon that was attached to the location moved away last year...



The accessories, cosmetics and novelties store, founded in 1989, has nearly 30 locations around NYC (and now in Miami).

The location opened here in October 2011.

H/T EVG reader Chloe!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Miracle Grill garden not-so-suddenly looks like a condo

Former Miracle Grill space on the market

One restaurant, two buildings

Miracle (Grills): A Ricky's and not an eatery opening on First Avenue

Window shopping for the next holiday!

Looking at Ricky's on Third Avenue near East 14th Street.

This looks like a promising item to help class up the day!

#Woo

(Every Day Is) Halloween: At the Ricky's Pop-up Shop on East Houston

Given that Halloween is like two weeks away, we stopped by the Ricky's Pop-up Halloween store in the Shoppes of Red Square along East Houston. To see what was what.

There is a lot of crap stuff to choose from.

Like wigs!





And accessories!







And costumes for couples!



And Jedi Knight posers!



A lot of the costumes are pretty much the same as the last time as when it was a Halloween City a few years ago… (except for the Mitt Romney masks)











Maybe buy this to join the crew hanging out across the street from the Bowery Hotel...



And not really sure where to categorize these two...

[Updated] Ricky's coming to former Blockbuster space on East Houston Street

As the signage shows here along the Shoppes of Red Square, another Ricky's is on the way. (The Lo-Down noted this first yesterday.)

The space at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B had its last full-time retailer here in March 2012 when the Blockbuster closed. (Soho Billiards contemplated a move here, though those plans never materialized.)

As for Ricky's, this will be the third location in the East Village … there are 22 Ricky's in Manhattan alone. Soon to be 23 places in Manhattan to buy the Pub Crawl Santa suit.

Anyway, guess this means the Halloween City pop-up shop won't be back…

Updated 6:29 a.m.

Ah! BoweryBoogie notes that this location will only serve as a Halloween pop-up shop. He has an interior shot … which looks to have a temporary grab-and-go (but pay first!) set up… Anyway! NEVER too early to start planning your Halloween costume! Will do a post on that as soon as I buy my xmas decorations…

Noted

Dave on 7th spotted this on the door at Ricky's on First Avenue.

Today in photos of Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots handing our flyers in front of Ricky's on First Avenue

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Ricky's on First Avenue is now open

Dave on 7th notes that the Ricky's on First Avenue near Seventh Street opened today... at the former site of the Miracle Grill... Jeremiah first noted this new arrival back in June...

Miracle (Grills): A Ricky's and not an eatery opening on First Avenue

As Jeremiah first noted yesterday, a Ricky's is opening at the long-dormant Miracle Garden space on First Avenue near Seventh Street...

... and the store will also fill the retail space at the newish apartment building at 92 Seventh St., the site of the Miracle Grill's former garden...

An interesting turn of events... the space had been on the market as a restaurant...





Given the adjacent Foodie Row of Seventh Street, Foodie Row Watchers figured this space was destined for something artisanal or drizzled or food trucked...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Miracle Grill garden not-so-suddenly looks like a condo

Former Miracle Grill space on the market

One restaurant, two buildings