Uh-Oh

It can't be good for business when the door of your showroom gets papered with eviction notices. Outstanding rent = $35K+. Yikes. Good luck to them.

UPDATE: The Abaete sign is now off the door. I wonder where they went.

Bye Bye Balducci's

[Image: Dorling Kindersley]

The much celebrated gourmet grocery store Balducci's closed both of its Manhattan locations on Sunday, April 26th. This store was something of a New York institution and unlike most store closings that pass unnoticed, this one garnered a long article in The New York Times.

In New York, the closings were low on bang, heavy on whimper, with no signs announcing the shuttering at either location.

“They priced themselves out of the market, it was hubris,” said Ms. Colasanti, who was a devotee of the flagship Balducci’s at Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village

Chelsea Court Meat Market

[Image: Barry Hoggard. Bloggy.com]


[Image: Vanishing New York]

After 49 years in business, Chelsea Court Meat Market packed up their knives and called it quits.

101 Way to Go Out of Business

Best Life has lived long and prospered, but its days are numbered. MediaWeek reported today that this men's lifestyle magazine will cease publication with the May issue. The website will also be shut down.

The magazine launched in 2004 and catered to an upscale male clientele, but the sluggish economy has had a negative impact on their ad sales and they are officially GOOB.

Lunetta Eclipsed by Skimpy Wallets

The ground floor restaurant space at the corner of Broadway and 21st Street is once again empty.

Lunetta, an Adam Shepard establishment, is no more. After Mayrose (the previous diner-fare tenant that was there for years) closed up Lunetta did a nice overhaul of the place to set it up in memory of classic mid-century New York Italian eateries. It was a beautiful place with huge windows, fun for watching the NYC street scene while dining.

We will miss you, Lunetta, and we hope that your sister in Brooklyn, La Lunetta, is still shining.

Say Good-Bye to Nancy

Another NoLIta business has said farewell to the neighborhood (even though the Web site still has 29 Spring listed as a store location)

I don't know when Nancy Koltes closed its doors but it makes me sad to see that they are gone. Their eponymous linen collection was stylish and comfortable - made from wonderful fabrics - and the buyers did a great job of selecting other household furnishings.

We'll miss you Nancy - hope the Web makes a nice global storefront for you.

Say Goodbye to Sigrid

The moving trucks came and took everything away. The women's clothing store, Sigrid Olsen, has closed their doors forever and Sigrid has turned to art.

After 24 years relatively successful years, Liz Claiborne closed this women's fashion line last summer. The store on West Broadway is GOOB and has been vacant the past few months.

Judging by the enormous signs in the window, there are no signs of a new tenant moving in any time soon.

Gates of Morocco Now Virtual

After 14 years of serving customers with Moroccan tea sets, slippers, and carpets, Gates of Morocco has left Prince Street in NYC's Manhattan for the rent-free world of online commerce. Good luck and shukrahn.

Used Furniture Couched in Store Closing

Clearance Sale sign + Store for Rent sign = GOOB.


The overpriced used furniture store at 123 4th Avenue (ooh, snazzy address, 123 4) is turning off the chandelier for good. Get in there soon and and maybe you'll see a realistic price - like a price you'd see in Iowa or Jersey or someplace where people would be insane to pay $750 for an old velvet chair with cigarette burns.

This place is on 4th Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets - very close to Union Square subway stops. Come on in, all you L train hipsters!

Will They Meet 40 Virgins in Heaven?

Virgin Megastore will leave large hole in Union Square when they close up shop. And where will the guys pushing home-made CDs go?

Not too long ago, when Virgin's neighbor, Circuit City, shut down we predicted that Virgin could not be far behind. Honestly, we don't know how they lasted this long (maybe they got a cut from the guys hawking their home-made CDs out front?).

This building is owned by Related Management who has one retail tenant left, Union Square Wines, which looks to be in good shape so far. The Regal Cinema is also in this building and no sign of collapse there either. And there's an MRI business in the basement, if you're keeping track.

Rocky Mountain News Has Peaked

...for the Last Time.

Colorado's oldest newspaper will publish it's last edition this Friday. Sadly, Rocky Mountain News was not able to find a buyer. The debt-ridden New York Times was in a similar position and was able to find an investor in Carlos Slim. We're not sure how that is working out.

Start collecting folks, these old birdcage liners are falling off the perch one by one.

Did you get burned by Hollywood Tans? They are GOOB.

Hollywood Tans on 6th Avenue near 10th Street has gone out of business. They are the largest national chain of tanning salons with over 300 locations (franchises) across the country. If you are in the market for some home tanning equipment it seems that their bank is liquidating all the beds and other potentially unsafe equipment.

One local Brooklyn woman almost got "burned" after she paid $211.86 for ten tanning sessions and found out that after her fifth tanning session her local Hollywood Tans branch went out of business. She contacted a local news station and got her money back. The station offered some helpful GOOB tips on their blog:

1. To protect yourself and the services you've paid for with companies that may go out of business, always ask for paperwork, like a contract or receipt during the initial transaction.

2. Ask the business about what will happen, "if" they were to close or go out of business. Find out what your recourse is should something go wrong.

3. If they don't respond or can't respond, its up to you if you want to do business with them.

In further bad news for Hollywood Tans, a lawsuit surfaced recently where it was alleged that Hollywood Tans and its leasing company induced certain people into “entering into unconscionable franchise agreements, defrauded them by sending them deceptive and inflated invoices, and violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”).

Retail Space Available

World Trade Camera Ltd. is no longer trading cameras around the world or open for business. The ominous Retail Space Available signs went up at 20 Vesey Street recently.

This closure had an impact on Amelia, one unfortunate New York photographer who posted this short review: ‎"They closed without any notice and took my film with them. What else can I say? They want 100 characters, but that says it all."

It's a good location for a business - nearly right across the street from the WTC.

Models Exposed!

Modeling agency Gilla Roos closed its doors last Friday claiming bankruptcy. Funny, they just hired someone a few weeks ago - didn't they see this coming? Too bad for the models. Because the industry standard is about net 90 days for payment anyone who worked for this agency since last November probably won't get paid. Gilla Roos represented real people who took time off from lunch to go to castings, who sacrificed lots of time and Metrocard swipes to show up at castings. Sad to see these hard-working folks get screwed.

R&G Models also folded last week and agencies Innovative and CED are rumored to have cut back on their staff.

King of Pop GOOB

If you have always coveted Michael Jackson's MTV award from 1994-1995 for Best Group Video, you're in luck. You can snap it up for a measly six grand. Since MJ's Neverland Ranch has GOOBed, you can attend the auction (read virtual yard sale) and buy all manner of wacko Jacko memorabilia including the humble oil painting depicted here (we hope it was donated by a fan and not commissioned).

Philly Daily News Meets Last Deadline

The latest to go GOOB is a newspaper publisher. Okay, they aren't GOOB yet, but they are seeking protection in the way of Chapter 11. And by "they" we mean Philedelphia Media Holdings, the owners of both the Inquirer and the Daily News, both big Philedelphia newspapers.

Publicis' Honeyshed Goes GOOB

Publicis tried to merge MTV-style entertainment with QVC-style ka-ching in a project called Honeyshed (not many URLs that make sense are left, huh?). Nothing doing. MTV and QVC styles, mindsets, and audiences seem like strange bed-fellows so we're not surprised the attempt went kaput.

Another sign that Honeyshed wasn't long for this world? The colors in its logo seem chosen to fit in on Going-out-of-business.blogspot.com. We welcome you Honeyshed.

Ibiza on University Place

They aren't announcing that they're GOOB but there's no sign in the window offering details of a new or alternate location. There is an Ibiza Kids very near by on 4th Avenue and I assume they're related but shouldn't there be a sign in the window saying as much? Maybe it's on the door and I didn't see it.

Technically, I think this falls under the Store Closing category, sometimes a precursor to GOOB.

Gitmo for Cheap!

SNL spoofs the closing of Guantanamo Bay with a GOOB version. "Hoods and handcuffs, cheap!"

Fortunoff GOOB

Wedding registry heavy-weight and jeweler, Fortunoff, files for bankruptcy on February 5th. Read the story here.

I guess their SEO firm will want to look into changing this ad that pops up in a Google search of Fortunoff. Maybe the line should read, "No longer in business after 86 years."

Fishs Eddy is not GOOB

Lots of stores across the city are going about of business, but Fishs Eddy is not one of them. They are having a pretty good sale nevertheless.

{Photos via Marianne O'Leary on Flickr}

Electronics on 14th Street - Not for Long

Why pay big bucks for a going-out-of-business sign when spray-paint on an old sheet does such a better job of saying, "We are so desperate we'll pay you to haul cameras and TVs away for us!"

Say It Loud, Say It Bold

There's nothing as powerful as a big, prominently placed sign to attract attention when you are GOOB. This one was spotted on Lexington Avenue in the 50s.

May We Suggest That You GOOB

Florida's Orlando Sentinel reports that a company called Showbiz Promotions has had the ridiculously tasteless idea to create, manufacture, and sell dolls called the Inspirational Caylee Sunshine Doll. Music plays when you press her belly - so uplifting! Too bad she was murdered. Remember her? The three-year old killed by her hard-partying mom, Casey Anthony?

Not to channel Nancy Grace but here's a company that should GOOB today.

UPDATE: Company has suspended plans to sell Caylee-inspired doll.

Circuit Breaker Economy

The fire sale continues at Circuit City but I think people are waiting for the real bargains - so far they are only offering 30% off. I wonder when they'll start offering 50% off. The Virgin Mega Store must be close behind the Broken Circuit - who the hell buys music?

Tough break for Related Management, the company that owns the building and collects the rent.

Second Avenue

These are on the same side of one block on Second Avenue near Houston in NYC.

Another One Bites the Dust

Farfetched, purveyors of cards and party favors on 4th Avenue for years, has finally called it quits, citing loss of lease as the reason.

How do you spell GOOB in Russian?

The US empire for the 16 year old Russian heiress Kira Plastinina sure didn't last long.

The website hasn't been updated to reflect the news, but the 42nd Street and 5th Avenue outpost is GOOB and everything is 50% off. Her firm, KP Fashion Co., filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on January 2, 2009.

Sooner or Later

When they call an Emergency Sale!, you know it's only a matter of time before the GOOB sale.

Your Circuit Can Not Be Completed

This past month Circuit City announced that they were GOOB and would be closing all 567 of their stores. The liquidation is underway.

Not GOOB, Not Good

Triple 5 Soul displays one of the thousands of signs in NYC announcing slashed prices. These 70% off signs can sometimes be precursors to the GOOB sign.

Liquidating Liquidators

What does it mean when liquidators go out of business? It's possible that National Wholesale Liquidators on Broadway near Houston just lost their lease. I guess we'll find out in the coming months.

What was the best bargain at NWL? I used to go there for light bulbs before I went all green and fluorescent with my bulbs. They also had cheap detergents and rubber gloves. Maybe Michael Alig shopped there.