Celebrating National Independent Retailers Week in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo

Every year, National Independent Retailers Week brings communities together to celebrate the unique and vibrant independent businesses that form the backbone of our neighborhoods.

One of the most cherished aspects of independent retailers is the sense of community they foster. Unlike impersonal chain stores, local businesses often become gathering places where neighbors meet, friendships are formed, and community ties are strengthened. The shop owners and employees are familiar faces who take the time to know their customers, providing a level of service and care that is rare in today’s fast-paced world.

In neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, this week takes on a special significance. Our neighborhoods are renowned for their eclectic mix of shops, cafes, and boutiques that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of New York City. Village Preservation works year-round to support, promote, and protect the small independent businesses in our neighborhoods through our Business of the Month, Welcome to the Neighborhood, and Small Business, Big History programs, and our Annual Village Awards. Today we’ll dive into this special week with a round-up of just a few wonderful independent businesses in our neighborhoods.

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village is synonymous with creativity and individuality. Our winding streets have been a haven for artists, musicians, and writers for decades, which has given rise to a myriad of independent retailers. National Independent Retailers Week shines a spotlight on these small businesses, reminding us of their importance in preserving the character and diversity of the Village. Supporting local retailers contributes to the sustainability of the community, ensuring that Greenwich Village remains a vibrant and welcoming place for generations to come. Since so many important American writers have lived and worked in Greenwich Village, we will take a look at a few of the small independent bookstores that contribute such an abundance to the special nature of the neighborhood.

Three Lives and Company, 154 West 10th Street

This independent bookstore is a literary gem filled with a well-curated selection of books and charm to spare. Three Lives & Company caters to people from around the block and around the world, as Toby Cox, the store’s owner, puts it. They have a clientele of visitors from outside the neighborhood, though it tends to be the go-to bookstore for neighbors and many New Yorkers. The tightly curated jewel box-sized shop shows you do not have to be big to be successful. They have a wide selection of books, but the most popular seem to be Literary Fiction, Narrative Non-fiction, and cookbooks. With the opening of the new Stonewall Visitor’s Center and LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations, naturally, the Gay Literature and History section was bustling more than usual.

Left Bank Books, 41 Perry Street

Left Bank Books is a used and rare bookshop located on leafy Perry Street. The shop features an eclectic selection from the 20th and 21st centuries, encompassing literature, art, film, photography, fashion, architecture, design, music, theater, dance, children’s books, and New York City.

The bookshop was founded in the early 1990s and was revitalized by new owners Erik DuRon and Jess Kuronen, who opened the current location in 2019. Erik has more than 20 years of experience as a bookseller at St. Mark’s Bookshop, the Globe Bookstore in Prague, and Bauman Rare Books. Jess is a Cooper Union-trained graphic designer. Together they transformed the neighborhood used bookshop into a used and rare bookshop specializing in literature and the arts.

Despite what may seem like a rarefied inventory, they have something for every book buyer. Books start at $10 and $15 dollars and can go into the five figures, with plenty in between.  Erik observed that they are not geared exclusively to book collectors, but also to creative professionals for whom these books might be an active resource.

The East Village

The East Village has long been a hub for countercultural and artistic expression. Its independent retailers reflect the neighborhood’s diverse and bohemian spirit, offering everything from punk rock fashion to handmade crafts as well as a huge variety of unique, one-of-a-kind shops to explore. If you seek a shopping experience that is truly original, the East Village has a plethora of options.

Casey’s Rubber Stamps, 322 East 11th Street

The quintessential East Village shop, Casey’s Rubber Stamps is an ode to a bygone era. It is one of the last remaining rubber stamp stores in New York City and has been in business for an astonishing 45 years. Founded by John Casey in 1979, Casey’s has become a cherished place for anyone seeking the magic of traditional rubber stamps crafted by hand in their workshop, the old-fashioned way.

Originally from Cork, Ireland, John Casey first founded his shop in 1979 on Seventh Avenue South in the West Village. He moved the shop to the East Village over a decade ago, but still makes his stamps the old-school way with a negative, a plate, and a mold process that is both more time-consuming and expensive than newer methods involving liquid polymer materials or laser cutting.

There is an array of pre-made rubber stamps with charming and whimsical designs, but if you have something specific in mind, Casey’s happily takes orders for custom-made rubber stamps as well! Bring your own unique designs to life with their skilled craftsmanship.

Trash and Vaudeville, 96 East 7th Street

A legendary name in punk fashion, Trash & Vaudeville has been dressing rockers and rebels since the 1970s. The store is an iconic part of the East Village’s identity. The vibrant and ever-evolving fashion scene of the East Village is home to some of the most iconic stores that have shaped global fashion trends. Among these, Trash & Vaudeville stands out not just as a store, but as a cultural institution that has defined rock fashion for decades. This legendary boutique has been the go-to destination for rock stars, punk enthusiasts, and fashion rebels alike. For its enormous contributions to the sartorial scene of the punk and rock & roll zeitgeist (and beyond), Trash & Vaudeville was a 2024 winner of a coveted Village Award.

NoHo

NoHo blends historic charm with a modern, edgy sensibility. This neighborhood is a hotbed for independent retailers that offer everything from handcrafted jewelry to a menagerie of natural curiosities and everything in between.

Take a look at just a couple of the extraordinary places to explore in NoHo.

The Evolution Store, 687 Broadway

For those with a taste for the unusual, The Evolution Store is a fascinating destination. Specializing in natural history collectibles, this store offers a captivating array of items such as fossils, minerals, taxidermy, and unique home decor. It’s a place where science and art intersect, providing a shopping experience that’s both educational and enchanting.

Bill Stevens founded The Evolution Store in 1993 at 120 Spring St. in SoHo, but the seeds of the business were planted even earlier. Bill’s father, a Mad Men-era adman, started out working in the Reproductions unit of the Army, creating posters, manuals, and guides. After the war, he eventually built a successful career in advertising. He would bring back exotic treasures from his international travels and Bill became fascinated by the curiosities. He was soon bitten by the collecting bug. He amassed a veritable menagerie of pets, both common and exotic. After establishing himself as a successful commercial artist in his own right, working with such icons as Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, Bill decided to pursue his true passion and established The Evolution Store with five boxes of his personal collection, amassed over his lifetime of traveling and exploration.

The store contains an extensive collection of fossils and minerals as well as taxidermy pieces, natural history curiosities, and decorative items that certainly spark conversation!

Jill Platner Jewelry, 165 Crosby Street

Jill Platner is both an extraordinary artist and a master craftsperson. Her fine jewelry collection, handcrafted in her historic NoHo studio, is inspired by nature, music, and inventive technique. Jill employs sustainable practices in her craftsmanship. From using recycled metal in jewelry production to offering customers the opportunity to melt their gold for store credit, to reducing waste in the course of the business day and staying away from single-use products, Jill prides herself in doing her best to keep the ecological footprint of the enterprise as modest as possible. Jill also supports organizations whose work protects the LGBTQIA+ community, the environment, and human rights.

The building where Jill’s studio is housed is remarkable for its historic background. The 1822-23 era Federal-style house was built by James Roosevelt, great-grandfather of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Perhaps more importantly, the building was home to the first hospital run by and for women, led by Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor in America. The building at the corner of Bleecker and Crosby was landmarked in 1999 as part of the NoHo Historic District. In 2018 Village Preservation placed a plaque on the building marking its historic significance.

These are but a few of the scores of extraordinary independent retailers that grace our neighborhoods. Our Business of the Month Map can help you explore what makes our neighborhoods and their independent retailers so remarkable. We encourage you to take a look at our resources and be sure to visit the abundance of special places throughout our neighborhoods.

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