A psychic for this block of 5th Street

As you may have sensed, a psychic adviser recently debuted on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

We perceived this arrival via planetary placements in a birth chart. Also, Eden told us that this place opened.

For a period, it seemed like any vacant storefront would become a home for psychics and/or tarot card and/or palm readers... then along came smoke shops. 

Perhaps we may be in for a reset with psychics*, who reportedly fared well during the early days of the pandemic, and bank branches.

This storefront was previously home to Tamam, a home accessories boutique, for five years.  

P.S.

* After writing the above post... we noticed that the psychic's storefront on Houston between Clinton and Attorney is now for rent...   

New 6th Street psychic apparently didn't summon psychic powers before taking this space

Late last month, a psychic set up shop in the lower level at 310 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

In recent days, workers covered the storefront — the long-shuttered Taj Mahal — with plywood. A reader described the city's arrival here as a "commotion," with what looked like an eviction from the basement where several people were living/working.

Anyway, the DOB slapped vacate orders on the basement space (dated from Tuesday) ... noting "that conditions in this premises are imminently perilous to life."

And per the DOB's all-cap style online:

VACATE OF COMMERCIAL BASEMENT SPACE. AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION OBSERVED TWO LOOSE CERAMIC TILES DIRECTLY OVER MAIN ENTRANCE TO COMMERCIAL SPACE IN BASEMENT. OATH SUMMONS FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AND VACATE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE ISSUED. 

Obviously, we're all thinking the same thing: Why didn't the psychic see this coming????????

P.S.

And are two loose ceramic tiles "imminently perilous to life"?

Senses working overtime: The former Taj Mahal is now home to a psychic on 6th Street

The long-shuttered Taj Mahal space on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue will be home to a psychic.

The awnings and signage were covered in blue this week... a small "psychic readings — $5 special" is on the front window. Not open just yet.

In keeping up with the Mahals... Raj Mahal is still open a few storefronts to the east for some live sitar music and reasonably priced food ... 

... one of two Indian restaurants left on the block (along with Malai Marke) ... 

Something other than a smoke shop opens in a vacant storefront

A spiritual advisor specializing in spiritual things like tarot cards has set up shop at 338 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue (RIP Perfect Threading Salon) ...

Signage up before the official signage included a web address ...

... that went to a New Jersey-based psychic who is seen sitting with either the real Jerry Seinfeld or a Seinfeld impersonator in an Instagram post from 2018 (h/t Steven!) ...

Also, H/T Pinch!

This block of 3rd Street gets a psychic with $10 specials; 'walk-ins welcome'

It has been nearly three years (!!!) since we noted a new business opening involving a psychic in a storefront. (We're back! Wooo!) 

Anyway! EVG reader Erin notes this arrival on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... this space was previously home to a more-useful business — Sunrise Cleaners.

Former psychic medium hits the rental market on 2nd Avenue

A for-rent sign arrived late last week at 73 Second Ave., bringing an end to the long-operating Clairvoyant Psychic here... (one listing had this business name as Clairvoyant Psychic, though it looks more like Clairvoyant Psychic Psychic based on the signage.)

The retail listing is not yet online for the space between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.
 

Meanwhile, right next door, a for-rent sign recently went up at the now-shuttered Nostro Ristorante, which debuted here in October 2019. They had reopened briefly for takeout and delivery back in the spring, but closed soon after. 

There has also been an ever-increasing encampment outside these storefronts in recent months. The city moved them along, though they have returned... and just out of the view of this photo on the right.  

Report: Psychics seeing an uptick in business

[EVG photo from March]

While all types of businesses have been struggling in recent months, there's apparently one medium that's booming: psychics.

Per the Post:

While storefronts are going bust across the Big Apple due to the coronavirus pandemic, New York’s psychics and fortune-tellers say they are seeing more clients — and making more money — than ever before.

And locally...

New Yorkers who’ve never turned to the occult before are now seeking out some spiritual guidance. East Village psychic Kathleen Lee used to largely serve tourists — but with visitors gone, her newly reopened business has seen more locals desperate to find their way in this "new normal" than ever before.

"In my 30 years I've never had so many clients from the same block or the same neighborhood," she said.

The return of the psychic hotline?

In case you were wondering how some neighborhood psychics were adapting to the current business landscape...

Noted

EVG reader David shared this from outside the psychic's space on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. No word if the palm reader foretold these typos on its new sign.

Empty Avenue B storefront yields psychic adviser

You likely had a feeling that a psychic adviser has set up shop at 228 Avenue B — right next to Mona's between 13th Street and 14th Street.

The storefront had been empty for a few years after the 567 Framing Shop moved out.

So, yeah.

Thursday's parting shot

Psychic reactions on Ninth Street by Dan Efram.

Psychic shown the door on 3rd Street

EVG reader @Jason_Chatfield shared this photo yesterday ... showing that the Marshal came calling, taking legal possession of the now-former Pychic Readings By Sophia space at 256 E. Third St. at Avenue C on behalf of the landlord ...



The lone Yelp review for the business bestowed Sophia with one star back in 2016, noting "Fraud, told me I had a dark Energy that needed to be cleansed for me to be happy."

Psychic sees clearly now on 2nd Avenue

Photo (and headline!) late this afternoon by Derek Berg...

343 E. 6th St. enlightened by new tenant

[EVG file photo]

The rental shop that specialized in Indian music and Bollywood cinema closed at 343 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue in October 2015.

After two months as J-Mar Special Touch barber shop ... workers bricked up the storefront in February and turned it into what everyone thought would be a residential space...


[Photo from February]

Per Streeteasy, the studio was asking $1,999 per month.

Anyway!

In the past week... the space quietly became ... a ... PSYCHIC!

Honeybee ready to read your past, present and future on Avenue A

[Photo from March 2014]

There's apparently a new psychic in town... in this exclusive report, workers this morning hoisted the new awning at 199 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...



As the sign shows, Honeybee is now doing readings here, which include the past, present and future...



Any thoughts on the punctuation in the sign? Readings By: Honeybee. As opposed to, say — Readings By Honeybee.

Anyway! This space went under renovation in March 2014, setting a local record with a two-day overhaul. (Read that post here.)

We'll check back later on the status of the guardian lions here...




[Photos from Saturday]

A psychic departs East 14th Street building accused of being a hotel

Over at 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, the Psychic (Psychi) Advisor who has operated out of the storefront for years ...



... has been told to vacate by the city...



The DOB website complaint notes this about the space: "illegally converted (west) store to Class A Apt with psychic office w/o providing required means of egress."

There are also complaints of "illegal hotel rooms" in the building. Per one complaint dated Dec. 11 (and left in the DOB ALL-CAP STYLE):

THERE IS A APARTMENT BUILDING BEING USED AS A SHORT STAY HOTEL.PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY COMING AND GOING. I SPOKE TO A RENTER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE STAYING FOR THIRTY DAYS. I HAVE IT ON VIDEO TAPE.

The building's longtime owner is listed as Betty & Lilly Corp.

In any event, this space is likely more attractive these days ... just two storefronts away from the new mixed-used building going in at 524 E. 14th St., where luxury housing and some retail are on the way.

For further reading:
"What Does the Future Hold for the City’s Tarot Card Readers and Fortune-Tellers?" (The Commercial Observer)

Thanks to Michael Paul for the photos!

Peering into the crystal ball about the future of these storefront businesses

[EVG photo from September]

The Commercial Observer explores the economics behind some dwindling storefront businesses in a piece titled "What Does the Future Hold for the City’s Tarot Card Readers and Fortune-Tellers?"

[H]ow do you make rent off of $5, $10 or even $20 readings? It’s something we think about all the time in terms of restaurants and $8 eyebrow threading and $10 manicures. But those industries have visible, steady clientele. And with rents what they are — $418 per square foot in Lower Manhattan for retail space, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s most recent retail market report, which works out to approximately 21 readings at $20 for every single square foot in a space—the economics seem daunting. (Retail rents are much higher, of course, in other parts of the city.)

“The people they meet for $20 — that’s just an opening,” James Famularo, a senior director at Eastern Consolidated, told Commercial Observer. “Once in a while, they’ll hit a nerve. Some sucker will believe it, commission the reader [industry speak for astrologists, psychics, and crystal, energy, palm and tarot readers] as a life consultant and pay hundreds or thousands of dollars per month. They’re not doing it for a palm read — they’re looking for a well.”

Still, that seemed far-fetched in terms of a business plan. Or, at least, risky. And, anyway, all psychics are not created equal.

This is not a story about who is good at their practice or who is easily seduced (or who is interested in doing a reading “for research”). This is a story about who is good at bookkeeping. Whatever the math, readers appear to be a vanishing breed, at least in terms of new storefronts and new searches for visible space.

Recent psychic closures in the East Village include storefronts on Sixth Street ... Second Street ... and Sixth Street.

Regardless, fans of the storefront psychics, tarot card readers and fortune-tellers shouldn't fret.

One broker compared them to "street hot dogs" — "Someone’s eating them. I don’t think they’re going anywhere."

By the way, don't be fooled by the "psychic" on the door at 170 E. Second St. The actual psychic closed here, but the new tenant — a graphic design studio — kept the former business logo intact...


[Photo last month by Derek Berg]

You likely saw this closure coming

A closure to note from this past week... the psychic who had set up a psychic reading shop on East Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B has closed after just six months of psychicing.

Despite a competitive $10 psychic reading deal and loyal fanbase nearby at Josie's, the business just couldn't sustain itself.

The space, which previously housed a (short-lived) organic dry cleaners-cafe, is now for rent.

Previously on EV Grieve:
You likely had a feeling of what is opening in this storefront on East 6th Street

You likely had a feeling of what is opening in this storefront on East 6th Street

There is a new tenant for the former (short-lived) organic dry cleaners-cafe storefront on East Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...



h/t @lauracgurf

When psychics close: If you're of the mind to rent this space on East 2nd Street

We have no idea when this storefront closed on East Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... an EVG reader mentioned it to us, noting that it was rare to see a psychic close up shop.

Well, there have been a few to shutter... like here and here ... and here?

Interestingly/impressively enough the psychic stayed in business for almost two years after Jared Kushner's Westminster Management bought the buildings here at 170-174 E. Second St. (Other tenants didn't fare so well.)

Per the retail listing, rent on the 250-square-foot space is available upon request. From that listing: "Bathroom in place and some concession towards work is available. Most uses are considered including non cooking food use."