Another place that I'd also include in this august list is Forbidden Planet. I've already devoted more than a few posts to it (see below). Now, Forbidden Planet never really left us. It moved across the avenue and, more recently, down the block a bit. But its original address on the corner of East 12th Street and Broadway (when it had that massive, Brian Bolland-illustrated signage) is the one that I carry the torch for. I was a child the first time I walked in, gasping in awe, doubtlessly, and its seemingly sprawling interior.
That location closed some time in the early 90's, I believe, and it moved to far less magical places across the street. The former site became a shoe emporium called "No Difference" for quite some time before turning into (yet another) Pret a Manger.
I recently spotted the great shots below of the original Forbidden Planet on this blog, and my heart skipped a beat. Enjoy.
More about Forbidden Planet over the years:
Farewell to Forbidden Planet?
You Have Been Judged
Forbidden Broadway
Back to the Planet ... Again
Back to the Planet
Here's Where it Happened
Ah, my youth. There was a basement, correct? Also, wasn't there a record store across the street (south on Broadway) in the early '90s?
Posted by: Ivan | April 10, 2013 at 11:59 AM
I'm also slightly obsessed with the original Forbidden Planet location. My dad took me there a couple of times in the 80's to buy Doctor Who stuff. Then when I went to college in the East Village I used to go there all the time (I may have actually partially decided to go to school in NYC just to be able to frequent this place). I used to go to the location on 59th St as well. The new location seems like just an avg run of the mill comic shop now. Really kind of sad. I always wondered what made them leave the original location - my guess is the rent once that area started becoming gentrified.
Posted by: Paul | September 05, 2014 at 08:09 PM
Oh man, the first time I went there.... And yes, Ivan, there was a basement. I would make so many trips there during the mid-80's to the early 90's, practically WEEKLY visits. Bought comics/t-shirts/VHS on the ground floor, GI Joe and Transformers downstairs.And that ceiling display with the figures and vehicles hung w/fishing line in a giant diorama.So many memories.
Posted by: Kyle | November 11, 2015 at 02:53 PM