The suspension period is up for cigarette sales at Gem Spa.
And yesterday, the corner shop on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place received their authorized certificate from the State to sell cigarettes and tobacco products again, a large source of revenue. (They lost their tobacco license back in the spring when a now-former employee sold cigarettes to an undercover minor.)
Now Parul Patel, who is running the store her father Ray has owned since 1986, is also hopeful to become a lottery retailer again. That license was revoked in the spring for an outstanding debt. According to Parul, she is working on an installment plan to pay off that amount in order to offer lottery sales (other big revenue source).
In an Instagram post earlier this week, she wrote:
Today marks the end of the suspension period for the cigarette and lotto licenses. While this is a wonderful milestone, we still have to go through the process of getting the licenses reinstated, pay off our debt and reach profitability.
Given the success of its branded T-shirts, Parul is adding to the shop's streetwear merchandising, as we previously reported.
We are going to be introducing a whole range of Gem Spa merchandise this week including long-sleeve tees, hoodies, beanies, tote bags and more as well as artwork, photography and books inspired by our store. Also we will be hosting a party in the next few weeks to help raise funds toward this end. It will be held at a hot downtown location and will be a fun-filled night of music, entertainment and of course egg creams!
Previously on EV Grieve:
• At the Gem Spa Cash Mob (Sept. 16)
• Gem Spa is now a 'Schitibank' (Sept. 12)
• Get your Gem Spa t-shirts or photos of Madonna — at Gem Spa! (Aug. 16)
• Will you buy a Gem Spa T-shirt? (June 28)
• "Gem Spa is open!" (June 18)
• What is happening at Gem Spa? (June 11)
• A visit to Gem Spa (May 10)