Yesterday afternoon, Jeremiah Moss posted a quick little headline regarding the closing of Alphabets on Greenwich Avenue, a great, cheeky little gift shop where you used to be able to procure everything from Fred Perry shirts to Jesus action figures and all stripes in between. I was saddened to hear of its demise, and almost couldn't fathom it. Like many of its fellow boutiques and businesses up and down that strip, Alphabets seemed like a pretty successful, attractive and lucrative venture. It had stood there for about sixteen years. But then, of course, as Jeremiah extrapolated, since the closing of St. Vincent's hospital, things on that avenue have changed.
I was incredulous at the news that St. Vincent's was closing. It was a historic locale. It was on the front-lines during the rise of the AIDS epidemic and it served as the first hospital to help victims and first responders on September 11th, 2001. On a personal level, my grandfather practiced there. I was born there (although I'm told I was almost born in the back seat of a taxi on 14th street), and both of my children were born there. As a parent, the notion of losing the neighborhood hospital made absolutely no sense at all. Regardless, St. Vincent's hospital is now all but a memory, leaving behind hulking, currently empty facilities.
Jeremiah linked to this compelling article (with accompanying slideshow) of Greenwich Avenue in the wake of St. Vincent's departure, and it struck me how many of those businesses I hold dear. From Johnny's Bar to Flight 001 to Partners & Crime Books and my beloved Elephant & Castle, there are so many destinations on that avenue that I count as favorites. I'm very sorry to see it all threatened.
I snapped the photo of the strip in question at the top of this post from the window of my wife's room when she was about to deliver my son Oliver back in 2006. Unfortunately, the window was a little dirty, so it's not exactly a pristine photograph, but it still demonstrates what an active little byway Greenwich Avenue was. Two years earlier, right after the birth of my daughter Charlotte, we'd had to rush back to St. Vincent's for a slightly hair-raising overnight session to combat my infant daughter's jaundice. We stayed overnight while they put our little baby in tiny goggles and inserted her into an container under bright florescent lights. In retrospect, we've learned that it's a fairly common treatment, but being newly-minted parents at the time, we were both terrified. At one point in the proceedings, I popped out to get us some food and ran down Greenwich Avenue to find something. I stumbled into Tea & Sympathy, and I must have been visibly shaken. Nicki the owner took one look at me, sat me down and asked me what was going on. I spilled my whole story about how we'd only just gotten Charlotte home before we had to rush back and were frankly really worried. She put together a lovely care package of food and goodies for us and didn't even charge me. She whisked me out the door, directing me to get back to my wife and daughter and not to worry. I'll never forget that.
I gather the remains of St. Vincent's are to be turned into -- wait for it -- pricey condominiums. Here's hoping, at least, that said development will spare Greenwich Avenue from the hard times it's currently facing. Until then, why not go down there and help out the businesses that remain? They'll assuredly thank you for it.
Hey, there's an Equinox on Greenwich for all the beautiful people. And a Starbucks. What more do you need...
Posted by: ken mac | February 17, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Sadly, that Equinox took the place of the late lamented Art Greenwich theatre (http://vassifer.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c18b253ef013485d98386970c-pi)
Posted by: Alex in NYC | February 17, 2011 at 12:29 PM
@ken mac..
You my Gentrifying friend are a heartless fuck, get outta the city.
Posted by: sd | February 17, 2011 at 01:22 PM
That's a touching story about Tea and Sympathy.
You're right: Everyone who can should get over to Greenwich Avenue and spend some money. I'll start with a meal at Chez Brigitte and follow with a cocktail at the Dew Drop Inn.
Oh.
[email protected] -- I suspect ken mac was joshing.
Posted by: David McDonough | February 17, 2011 at 01:58 PM
The women at Tea & Sympathy are terrific. Whenever I go they’re always kind and unpretentious. I love that place, and not just because of their scones and clotted cream!
My husband and I experienced newbie parent jaundice stress with our own daughter so I know exactly what that felt like! Your Nicki story is a great one. Loved the Art Greenwich and hate to hear that the local businesses there are vulnerable too. Will do my best to get the word out.
Posted by: Claribel | February 17, 2011 at 02:25 PM
I agree completely with your incredulity. I had a life saving operation at St. Vincent's in 1974 and my daughter was born there in 2009. The idea that the hospital would actually close seemed completely ludicrous until it happened. It still makes me sad that it is gone because it played such a prominent role in my life. Twice.
Posted by: Charles | February 17, 2011 at 02:36 PM
That's a lovely story, Alex - Nicky is definitely a kind soul and Tea & Sympathy, along with Elephant and Castle, are two of my favorite NYC institutions as well. I lived on Jones Street for a year, walking distance to St. Vincent's, and was truly sad to see it go.
Heaven protect us all from the real estate termites of this city.
Posted by: klemper | February 17, 2011 at 05:13 PM