Where are they now? Catching up with Gem Spa's former Zoltar in Bushwick

Archival photo from the vast EVG Zoltar collection

In May 2019, local card-carrying members (hi!) of the Zoltar Fan Club were heartbroken to learn that their favorite Animatronic Fortune Telling Machine had been removed from outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place.

As we learned in June 2019, Zoltar's owner found a new home for his words of wisdom outside OMG Pizza in Bushwick.

And that's the last we heard about the situation... until now. 

At the Times, Alex Vadukul has an update on Zoltar ... as well as a conversation with local businessman and arcade owner Carlo Muraco, who seems to have a lock on the NYC Zoltar market.

First, Vadukul speaks with some passersby outside the pizzeria in Bushwick about this Zoltar's past.

"I definitely put a few bucks into that thing when I was drunk," said Patrick Reid, 30. "After skating in Tompkins we'd meet up on St. Marks and pull up to it, maybe hang out a bit in front of it before heading off to the next adventure. He told me once I could walk a path to greatness, but I think he's bad juju."

"It's bizarre this remnant of Gem Spa has ended up here in nowhere Bushwick," said Amrit Dhillon, 26. "It's interesting to see how New York eats itself up and spits itself out again, like a living organism."

Saddam Alsaidi, 27, who works at the pizzeria, knew of Zoltar's past life across the river. "I know he used to be famous in the East Village," he said. "He was a big deal."

The article also gets into the disagreement that led to Zoltar's Gem Spa ouster... as well as comments from Parul Patel, who had been running the corner shop for her father until the official closing in May 2020.

"I'd only heard he’s out there in Bushwick," Ms. Patel said. "It's nice to know there's a piece of us still out there in the city. Even though he's not in the East Village anymore, he is a real living artifact of Gem Spa."

You can read the article, which includes several links to EVG's deep reservoir of Zoltar posts, right here.

Zoltar first arrived at Gem Spa on Sept. 23, 2012.

Meanwhile, there is a new Zoltar outside the March Hare on Ninth Street.

'I see you over there' — the return of a Zoltar and words of wisdom

A familiar figure in a paisley vest and luxurious gold headwrap made a triumphant debut today outside The March Hare, the toy store at 321 E Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Welcome back, Zoltar! (Thanks to Steven, MP and Jason for the photos!) 

For starters, this is NOT the same Zoltar that held forth outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's for nearly seven years — 2012-2019. (Among other features, that Zoltar had a flute in his cummerbund.) 

That Zoltar ended up outside a pizzeria in Bushwick, where bloggers probably don't post about him every few days. Sources on Ninth Street tell us that this Zoltar was important from the faraway land of New Jersey.

The new Ninth Street Zoltar is $1 for a fortune (aka words of wisdom). 

We'll have more on this arrival in the days ahead... but one question was answered — the Ninth Street Zoltar will not be outside 24/7...

The Gem Spa Zoltar is alive and well and telling fortunes an L-train ride away in Bushwick

[Zoltar as seen in — sob — December]

In late May, Zoltar — everyone's favorite Animatronic Fortune Telling Machine — was removed from its post of nearly seven years outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place.

Unfortunately, as you may have sensed by now, this Zoltar will NOT be returning. The official word from Gem Spa: "The Zoltar machine was removed by its owner due to our scaled-back hours to prevent vandalism."

Turns out that this Zoltar remains in the five boroughs. We've had several reports of sightings of Zoltar in... Bushwick, specifically on Myrtle and Central Avenue. The photo below is from EV resident Grant showing Zoltar ready to ply his wisdom trade outside OMG Pizza ...



... and for further documentation...

View this post on Instagram

Apparently the Zoltar that once sat outside of Gem Spa in the East Village is now sitting outside of the meh pizza joint at the end of my block. #zoltarinbushwick #gemspa #fortunetelller #Bushwick #Brooklyn #bushwickgrillclub

A post shared by Frank Davis (@bushwickgrillclub) on Jun 18, 2019 at 10:50am PDT

We did compare the graffiti markings on the Gem Spa and the Bushwick Zoltar and can confirm the two are one in the same. While a move to Bushwick seems a little, oh, 2014, we hope that Zoltar is happy and can win over the new neighbors.

Zoltar first arrived at Gem Spa on Sept. 23, 2012. A tribute will follow here at a later date.

I don't see you over there — yes, you!: Zoltar is MIA outside Gem Spa

A shocking sight is in store for visitors to Gem Spa on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place.

ZOLTAR IS MISSING.


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

So are the newspapers.

We reached out to ownership to learn why Zoltar is not at his post, where he has told fortunes and offered wisdom on this corner starting on Sept. 23, 2012, not that we've been keeping track.

An employee told EVG Animatronic Fortune Telling Machine correspondent Steven that the 'tar — as no one calls him, tbh — will be back in a few days. We'll believe that when we see him again and insert our $2 to learn who he likes in the Belmont Stakes.

Meanwhile. Enjoy this EVG video flashback to September 2012...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Zoltar arrives on St. Mark's Place, sees 'a great deal of happiness' in return for $2

Zoltar is the greatest thing to happen to St. Mark's Place since ______________?

Zoltar awaits a service call; fortunes, wisdom on hold

A visit to Gem Spa

Photos and interview by Stacie Joy

Updated: Since this post, Zoltar has been removed from the shop's front. Gem Spa has also reduced hours and discontinued newspaper sales.

Parul Patel is running a few minutes late for our appointment and she calls to say she’s on her way. So I use the time to take in Gem Spa, the iconic corner shop and newsstand at 131 Second Ave. and St. Mark’s Place that has a long history in the neighborhood — and not just for its signature egg creams. (Look at the Gem Spa Wikipedia entry for its sprawling legend.)

Patel, whose 76-year-old father Ray owns the shop, soon arrives, issuing a flurry of instructions to employees as she sets up the house special chocolate egg cream (seen below with pretzel stick and chocolate-covered jelly ring).









As her father’s in declining health, Parul has been handling the store’s management. The Patel family has owned the store since 1986.

Parul says the egg cream has been made for almost 100 years at this address. While chocolate is the current best-selling flavor, she also offers vanilla, strawberry, orange creamsicle, and black-and-white.

She plans to debut some new flavors soon – and scoop! – I saw the creation of the first-ever cookies and cream version.







Future flavors also include mocha and hazelnut or Nutella flavor. Upcoming offerings may include ice cream and milkshakes, and new flavors of e-cigs, as well as adding jewelry and handbags to the hats and accessories already being sold outside the shop.



Last month, Gem Spa lost its license to sell lottery and tobacco products (with the exception of e-cigs) due to an employee twice selling cigarettes to an undercover underage buyer. The state has suspended the store’s license for six months and also leaves them unable to apply for a license to sell beer.

Neighborhood icon (and EVG favorite!) Zoltar arrived in 2011, when the machine’s owner offered to license it to Gem Spa. (They keep 50% of the profits.) Zoltar seems to be busiest at night although he gets to pose with tourists often during the day.





The store recently joined Instagram — you can follow it here.

Gem Spa has also been enjoying some media exposure of late, including a deep dive on the shop's history at Gothamist... and a visit by NY1's affable Roger Clark.











“Gem Spa serves and loves its locals, tourists, and eccentrics,” Parul tells me, before sending me on my way with a chocolate-covered jelly-topped graham cracker and a smile.





Visit our previous A Visit To features here.

Saturday's parting shot

Zoltar with a tag outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place this morning...

Zoltar is — more than usual — increasing spiritual energy this morning

There's some sandalwood burning here outside Zoltar's residence at Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place...

Back to the future

Zoltar had been partially covered with a trash bag outside Gem Spa the past few days. The front pane of glass in his house of birch-veneer fortune telling fell back and knocked his head wrap off to the side.

Anyway, EVG regular Lola Sáenz notes that a coin-operated, fix-it machine team has repaired Zoltar's home of nearly five years here on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place...



To a wealth of wisdom.

For the time being, Zoltar is unable to see the future

Uh-oh. Fortune trouble outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place. Zoltar is currently out of commission.

Hopefully the gold head wrap softened the blow when the front pane of tempered glass fell back and cracked Zoltar in the skull ...

LinkNYC-Zoltar showdown on 2nd Avenue

The latest LinkNYC kiosk went up yesterday on Second Avenue near St. Mark's Place...near the watchful eye of Zoltar. Not so sure this will be a friendly rivalry. ("I see you over there...")

Zoltar's 'wealth of wisdom' for Lily Tomlin at Gem Spa

[EVG file photo]

The New Yorker has a piece with Lily Tomlin, whose promoting Season 2 of the Netflix show "Grace and Frankie."

In the late 1960s, Tomlin lived on Fifth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery. For the interview, Tomlins stops by Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place, where she recalled:

“I’d come to Gem Spa on the weekends and I would rail against the rock culture, because it was so misogynistic. I would fight my way in, and I’d shout out from behind the throngs. I’d say, ‘I need a box of business envelopes!’ ”

Later, she gives her $2 to Zoltar out front:

“Zoltar’s been around a long time,” she said. She fed in the bills, and the machine spat out a yellow ticket.

“Is that it?” Tomlin said, rapping on the glass. “What a rip!”

“For a small fee, Zoltar will give you a wealth of wisdom,” Zoltar said in a booming voice.

The fortune was read aloud: “A happy reunion with a loved one will make life all that you ever wanted it or dreamed it to be. You have a very trusting nature and are easily taken in by so-called friends.”

“My God in Heaven!” Tomlin said.

Zoltar's true identity revealed

EVG reader MA makes the discovery outside Gem Spa this evening...

Zoltar sees a future without graffiti (at least for the next few days)

Over outside the Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place, Zoltar is receiving a summer scrubbing….

As these photos via EVG reader Lola Sáenz show, a worker is removing the various tags that well-wishers have left on Zoltar's home of nearly three years…





Now if someone will please just return his crystal ball.

Zoltar, now with the personal branding back in place

[September 2012]

Zoltar graced us with his presence outside Gem Spa starting on Sept. 23, 2012 (as seen in the above photo).

And Zoltar hadn't really looked the same since his glass was bashed by a skateboard in April 2013 here on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place… the replacement glass didn't carry the ZOLTAR name…



Now, though! Yesterday, the ZOLTAR SPEAKS lettering returned!



See?!



Though given how vocal Zoltar can be, is the SPEAKS part necessary?

Triumphant returns: Zoltar back where he belongs again outside Gem Spa

[Back in October]

Back in October, in a move that Zoltar Watchers called shocking ("shocking" or shocking), someone decided to move Zoltar to the left of Gem Spa's front door by the to-go window, away from his two-year-plus home on the right side. All to give more space and access to the stupid Key Master game that's not even there anymore and maybe some hats and sunglasses.

Now, though, we can report that overnight Zoltar is back pretty much where it all began here...



And if this helps...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Gem Spa shake up puts Zoltar on the outs

Zoltar continues his difficult transition on the left side of Gem Spa's front door

How Zoltar passes his down time?

By reading Time Out?

Wait.

OK.



Or maybe this a paid product placement? Or just highjinks? After all, poor Zoltar had to endure another fallen piece of plexiglass on this frigid day ...



Photos by Derek Berg

Sub-zero wind chills don't prevent Zoltar from seeing the future

Hard at work outside Gem Spa this morning at 8:30, reports Derek Berg…

Meanwhile outside Gem Spa

We have no idea what's happening here on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place... just rumors (a breakout attempt among them)...





Photos by Derek Berg