Back … Again … to Bonaparte

Here is a (very) late follow-up to a post from … jeezus … 2014.

The original spot of Bleecker Bob’s was not on Bleecker Street. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, it was never actually on Bleecker Street. In someone’s infinite wisdom, it was a good idea for the late Bob Plotnik to assume some sort of catchy nickname that assigned him some kind of local renown, so he became Bleecker Bob despite possibly never having operated any business on that particular strip. Whatever.

The original spot of his shop was on MacDougal Street, just steps to the south of West 8th Street (see above). At some point at the dawn of the 80’s, though, Bob pulled out of that location and moved over to 118 West 3rd Street between MacDougal and Sixth Avenue. It was at this address that I first visited the shop in about 1981 or 1982. And it was this iteration of the shop that bore his nickname until it closed in 2013.

Before the space was Bleecker Bob’s, however, it was another similarly inclined shop called – inexplicabaly – Bonaparte. I never set foot in Bonaparte, so I cannot credibly tell you a thing about it, but I recently found a better shot of its exterior than the one I first posted here.

Here in 2020, the 1188 West Third street is still Asian eatery Miyagi, which I wrote about here, although I haven’t been back since. The original Bleecker Bob space on MacDougal off 8th Street played host to a number of ventures over the years – inclulding, very briefly, another record store – before morphing into a barber shop, a tea salon, a sandwich joint and other things. These days, it’s completely vacant.

Bleecker Bob Plotnik, meanwhile, passed away in 2018. Amazingly, Ben's Pizza is still there. 

Comments

[YNoT]

the reason why Bob wuz Bleecker Bob
wuz cuz he was originally partnered /w/ Broadway Al @ Village Oldies, jest like any vaudeville / Comedy team
( or Doo-Wop group, takes yr choice )
u had to have a nick-name to distinguish you fum other jest any other Schmo -
Bob himself came up /w/ his nick-name -
thx fer th' pix. . .
i furst got thrown-out of th' MacDougal shoppe
by Chris W in Sept of 1980 -
i prolly took my money to Bonaparte -
i then ended up werkin' @ bLob's in '88
and werk'd on-off til he had his stroke in 2000 -
can't say i liked the guy,
buTT i loved the place & the people -
DeSalvo, Andre, Craig, Warren Lee, eventually evn Chris W

[YNoT]

ANy-body kno whut became of Russ??
he had the T-ShuRT concession in the back
thru the 80s -
shurts were printed down-stairs -
(RaT-iNfeSTed basement /w/ tons 'o' rekkids!)
Johnny Thunders wuz **NoT** happy
with th' DEad oR ALiVe ShuRT -
and as soon as he would come in. . .
sales staff in back were qwik
to remove iT fum display. . .
or risk his wrath!!