He’s selling his original design magnets, tees, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, masks, prints, patches, bags and caps, all printed in house. I’ve seen his stickers around the neighborhood, especially Dr. Fauci the Chronic 2020 and Wuhanalds, but it’s the Trumpkashi, a mashup of Tekashi 6ix9ine and Donald Trump that is getting the most attention while I am visiting...
O’Rourke previously sold merch in the subways via mobile art cart, what he calls his “subway hustle” and a bit of that hustle remains as he sits outside his storefront and calls out to passersby, holding up favorite designs and asking if they want to pay by cash, card or Bitcoin. “NY saved my life,” he tells me.
“The access to foot traffic is why I am successful. I need the exposure of living in a city with a concentration of so many people. This is especially important if, like me, you don’t have money.”
FlyeLyfe has a month-to-month lease for now, and O’Rourke plans to keep the store in the neighborhood, but hopes to move to an on-the-Avenue spot for increased foot traffic and exposure.
You can keep up with the store here. The shop is open from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.