[Ben and Jonathan]
Article and photos by Steffi Veizen, who takes a look at one of the Christmas tree vendors in the East Village this season.
Jonathan gives street vendors a good name here outside the Rite Aid on First Avenue at East Fifth Street.
Working the Christmas tree circuit on and off for the past six years, Jonathan is friendly and constantly smiling, although some of his customers don't seem to appreciate the Canadian native's cheery nature.
He sleeps in his rental truck and alternates shifts with Ben, his business partner. Jonathan's plywood shed is decorated with cardboard stars, topped with pine branches, carpeted and wallpapered with trippy iridescent (wrapping?) paper. A small heater helps keep the space toasty.
On a recent visit, Jonathan handled an indecisive, pain-in-the-ass customer with patience and grace, repeating the prices to her and catering to her hyperactive daughter. He cut about an inch off the bottom of the tree, telling the girl why and showing her how to count the rings on the cross section.
"Your tree is about 17 years old," he tells her with a smile. He makes most people around him look pretty Grinchy.
"Not everyone is difficult, although some people are," Jonathan said. "Some people try to bargain with me, and insult me when I don't comply."
Jonathan works for the generic-sounding company Evergreen and earns his money entirely on commission, so he's not in the position to give any discounts.
"I used to get angry, but not anymore," he said.
Any interesting customer stories to share?
"I had to leave my trees once and a man took a stand, gave the money to the shoe repair store, and left his phone number in case he owed me more … He came back and paid me the rest of what he owed me."
The job ends for Jonathan and Ben tomorrow. From there he said the trees will be collected and sold to the Russian Orthodox community, who celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7. Any leftover trees will be sent to the Department of Sanitation's treecycling extravaganza Mulchfest.
