Trying to remember the name of an East Village NYC gift shop
November 15, 2019 6:19 AM Subscribe
Pretty straightforward question, I guess. I’m trying to remember the name of a kind of quirky gift shop in NYC; it closed around 15 years ago, I guess?
This place was definitely in the East Village, and I seem to recall it was on a street, not an Avenue, although I could be wrong about that. It was very similar to Archie McPhee — it sold a lot of novelty items like Magic 8 Balls and Martian popping things and that sort of thing, although perhaps a bit higher end than that. It also had a phrenology head in the window. (I remember because I once asked them, “How much is that phrenology head in the window?”)
It definitely isn’t Love Saves the Day, although I always sort of thought of them together. This wasn’t a vintage store. As I said, I think it closed in the early or mid 2000s sometime. It was kind of similar to the store Alphabet currently on Avenue A, although it had sort of a more bad-old-day East Village vibe to it.
Thanks for any help!
This place was definitely in the East Village, and I seem to recall it was on a street, not an Avenue, although I could be wrong about that. It was very similar to Archie McPhee — it sold a lot of novelty items like Magic 8 Balls and Martian popping things and that sort of thing, although perhaps a bit higher end than that. It also had a phrenology head in the window. (I remember because I once asked them, “How much is that phrenology head in the window?”)
It definitely isn’t Love Saves the Day, although I always sort of thought of them together. This wasn’t a vintage store. As I said, I think it closed in the early or mid 2000s sometime. It was kind of similar to the store Alphabet currently on Avenue A, although it had sort of a more bad-old-day East Village vibe to it.
Thanks for any help!
Best answer: Rickys? On I think A and 1st, or maybe 1st and 1st or 2d? Not Rickys the cosmetics/hair care/Halloween costume place, unconnected.
posted by LizardBreath at 7:06 AM on November 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by LizardBreath at 7:06 AM on November 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Little Ricky’s. That was it. Thank you!
I loved Reminiscence as well. And I still drop in to Exit 9 from time to time.
posted by holborne at 7:27 AM on November 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
I loved Reminiscence as well. And I still drop in to Exit 9 from time to time.
posted by holborne at 7:27 AM on November 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
Are you sure it was the east village and not WV? Mxyplyzyk was kind of like that and i think it had a phrenology head in the window.
On edit: Never mind! :)
posted by nantucket at 7:28 AM on November 15, 2019
On edit: Never mind! :)
posted by nantucket at 7:28 AM on November 15, 2019
Response by poster: I guess phrenology heads were a thing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by holborne at 7:34 AM on November 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by holborne at 7:34 AM on November 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Slightly more specifically, looks like it was called Little Rickie, and it was on First and 3d. And that will conclude today’s lesson old Olde New Yorke City.
posted by holborne at 7:39 AM on November 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by holborne at 7:39 AM on November 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
I loved that place. It had oddly high-quality insane gift-shop trash things. And a photo booth!
posted by LizardBreath at 8:43 AM on November 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by LizardBreath at 8:43 AM on November 15, 2019 [3 favorites]
I was coming in here to say I remembered a place on 1st, just around the corner from the Hells Angel's clubhouse but couldn't remember the name. I have a weird little sculpture from there, bought back in about 1997. Thanks for the memories!
posted by marylynn at 7:30 PM on November 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by marylynn at 7:30 PM on November 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by wowenthusiast at 6:44 AM on November 15, 2019 [1 favorite]