A sterile new sign for the Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone on Fulton Street near Nassau in the Financial District is a fine joint for some beers and affordable quality food. And they open at 8 a.m.



Was disappointed, though, to see them recently get new, sterile signage...fits right in with the rest of the neighborhood now. Charmless.



Still haven't been back to the Blarney Stone on Eighth Avenue near the Garden since they ruined that with a remodeling a few years ago...

[Top photo by IrishNYC via Flickr]

Old sign of the day

I came across this Cloder sign on Ann Street, which runs parallel to Fulton near the Financial District. I did a little digging and couldn't find out what Cloder was. Based on the condition of the storefront, it doesn't appear anything has been in this space for a few years.



Also, it's a one-sided sign, apparently to attract the one-way traffic moving east on the street.

This former business is directly across the way from the closed-off back entrance of the Blarney Stone, where their neon goodness brightly shines. Must enter through the front door on Fulton.

Down on Fulton Street

As I've written before, my place of employment is near Fulton Street, that lovely stretch of misery between Broadway and Water. The street has been torn up for years. Meanwhile, businesses are seemingly struggling to survive. Still, there are some nice little spots tucked away on the side streets, like Ryan's, an Irish pub on Gold Street that's never too busy (except when the NYU and Pace kids get in with their fake IDs). Given the glitzy high rises going up nearby, you have to appreciate such a place. Haven't been there in a few months, so I thought I'd ... Oh. Shit.


Here's what remains of Ryan's and whatever was next to it. Torn down to make way for condos.


Well, at least Ryan's was able to move nearby. Meanwhile, I worry about some of the mom-and-pop shops on Fulton Street. Seems like someone is closing up all too often. And there's no place for them to go.


There's a nice cobbler on the street. An odd little jewelry store/barber stop combo. And the Blarney Stone.


Still making rubber stamps. But for how long?




So why are the little shops disappearing? Just look up.


Of course.

Earlier on EV Grieve:

Been on Fulton Street lately? What a treat!