Reader Ken Jacowitz did some snooping around and sent in the following shots. Is that a teddy bear peeking from behind Colony's door?
photos by Ken Jacowitz
Why, yes, it is. But not just any bear. Signs say it's the Build-a-Bear Workshop bear, native to Overland, Missouri, and conqueror of suburban shopping malls across the nation, with over 400 stores worldwide, including three already in New York City.
Colony Music had been here for over 60 years, since 1948. They were forced out after Stonehenge bought the Brill Building and quintupled the legendary record and music store's rent.
Add this one to the ever-growing list. Where once was a New York original, a one of a kind, there's now another piece of bland, middle-American ubiquity.
They did the same thing on 9th Ave in Chelsea, know we're getting another much needed bank.
ReplyDeletea drop in the bland bucket BUT the contributions to World Wildlife Fund and other charitable giving might offset the horror of the mass produced panorama at least a little. not enough to make up for the mall-a-fying of neighborhoods, and destruction of integral communities of course.
ReplyDeleteWhat a freakin' travesty!
ReplyDeleteAnd C'MON PEOPLE!....
.....there HAS to be some C...R...A...Z...Y New Yorkers left who will STEAL THESE DOORS.....
.....DAMMITT!!!
At least, SAVE THE HANDLES!
Sure as shootin', they'll rip off those clef-notes to be replaced by some GAWWWD-AWFUL bear-shaped monstrosities.
I wonder if they'll ever make a Black Isrealite bear in honor of the past residents of the area.
ReplyDelete"Squeeze his tummy and he'll call you a white devil!"
Here is a non-essential item whose concept (a teddy bear) has been around for ages, but was only an insignificant generic yet charming substitute for a childhood companion. Now, the good people at Build-a-Bear Have managed to turn this most simplistic, nostalgic comfort accessory into an extremely expensive and covetous childhood status symbol. How brilliant to take this ordinary experience and turn it into a multi billion dollar industry! Good Job!
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness to the people at Build-a-Bear, this would not be possible without the help of an extremely cultureless, bloated, and frivolous society. The Fact that a teddy bear company can afford a ridiculous $5 million in rent says a lot about our lost American ideals and silly priorities. Embarrassing!
Somewhere over the last 20-30 years there's been a pretty significant shift in the design of the typical family unit. It used to be that parents would usually leave on their own for a vacation and dump their kids at a relative's home for a while. Now families it seems usually vacation together with an emphasis on keeping their children entertained and occupied. God forbid the parents go away and have some adult time on their own for a week. What this has now created is a HUGE market for family vacations with shopping and attractions that are family…well actually KID friendly, and that I believe is why we're seeing the things we see in Times Square. People dressed as cartoon characters and super-heros, mega candy stores and now this bear thing. There's nothing wrong with going away with your kids, but I don't think it's such a bad thing to leave them behind to fend for themselves a little, preferably with some sane, trustworthy people. All this marketing to kids is just really excessive and in the long run probably not a great thing. New York was a town that was really designed for adults, and it was like that for a long, LONG time. Not anymore.
ReplyDeleteI don't know..when I was growing up..back there in the ancient decade of the 70s, the message was clear: 'it's an adult world, you just live in it.' Back then kids still had fun, had birthdays and holidays. Nobody was deprived, but with some exceptions they weren't catered to either. Why or how that changed, I'd really like to know.
Stonehenge has a Burning Man thing going on. They held an burning man art exhibit at their space on Sixth Ave and 15th Street. Hipster hypocrites?
ReplyDeleteBased on the spare interiors, this appears to be a holiday pop-up branch of Build-a-Bear Workshop. Stonehenge may have not yet found their long-term, $5MM rental tenant.
ReplyDelete