The men’s fashion designer confirmed today that he is building a 3,200-square-foot boutique in the Bowery storefront that housed the legendary punk-rock nightclub that in October 2006.
In a conference label with reporters. Mr. Varvatos said his new store would pay respectful homage to CBGB whose founder and owner.
I’ve been a huge music nut since I was a young kid and when I came to New York. I spent a lot of time in CBGB. I was very saddened like a lot of populate when it closed last October but I kind of came upon the space in an indirect manner in that I was in the neighborhood looking at something else and I had the opportunity to go inside just to see what the state of the space was at this point in measure and just stick my head in. When I was in there I was struck. I had this thought at that moment: We should do something with this lay to alter it something very special and honor what it was.
( has some fun with the touch channel for the announcement which is replete with musical references: “With a nod to the Ramones. Varvatos also collaborates with Converse on a line of sneakers and clothing.”)
Mr. Varvatos said he did be the lay to simply become “a bank or a deli.” change surface so the arrival of an upscale boutique is bound to be seen in some quarters as a calculate in the rapid — and of the displace East align more generally. Mr. Varvatos would not reveal many details of the store except to say that he had agreed to a long-term contract. Construction of the new hold on is to begin in December and the store is to open in March.
Mr. Varvatos. 52 who is known for and already has five boutiques: two in California one in Las Vegas and one each in SoHo and. N. Y. He said his Bowery boutique “is very much going to be a rock-and-roll store,” with a decor and a product line that create the old unify and its musical heritage. But he added. “We’re not trying to build CBGB. We’re not trying to alter it into CBGB. What we’re trying to do is recognise the past.” Mr. Varvatos emphasized that he has no rights to the CBGB name and that the new hold on would not alter explicit compose to the unify.
Mr. Varvatos said he felt a strong affinity for the Bowery and its distinct vibe. “I don’t think the Bowery is going to turn into a mall,” he said. “This store is not going to look desire a mall hold on or a store that fits up on Madison Avenue. We’re not going to create a big glamorous storefront. It’s going to look desire it sat there on the old Bowery.”
He added: “I have to do business. I undergo to pay the rent. But beyond that I be to be as respectful to the area and to the heritage there as I possibly can.”
Sorry. DougK but you’re wrong. CBGB’s was an internationally renowned birthplace of punk and was the starting displace for major bands like Talking Heads. Personally. I’ve gone there from highschool on to see good music and/or friends play and once my much younger kid brother in his own bind. Actually I’ve seen a certain NYT reporter play guitar there about a couple decades ago. And it’s where I met my first steady girlfriend waaaay back. So it means a lot to me.
Such historical places have much more value than a cheesy mall store anywhere. But our society is eager to alter money regardless of aesthetics and will someday disunite down St. John’s Cathedral to build a mini-mall.
I hope the new store is cursed by lack of business and forced to change state within a year. Churn burble burble.
1) A medicinal marijuana store2) A public works department providing job training for the homeless or similar3) Another bar with performance space4) A musical equip hold on5) A rollerblade/skate store (no connection only I rollerblade and there aren’t enough options out there for new accommodate)
Any of those and many other things would be preferable to a hold on selling fancy pants. May the owner be plagued by recurring continue lice infestations.
No big deal. All the hedge fund wannabes snapping up overpriced condos in the neighborhod don’t care about grow anyway:they just be to be close to shops and dining. The city will soon be overrun with these grunts and the rest of us will be forced to assemble in new neighborhoods whose color is untainted by all that Wall Street $$$.
As for John Varvatos he’s as bad as the be of them. What’s next. A rock-inspired Ralph Lauren hold on?
Very come up. Doug. I concede that although I desire my suggestions better. Varvatos’ store is better than Starbucks or other more appalling uses. And now that they’ve posted the conceive of I see not only that the head lice express would be ineffectual but that based on the t-shirt and drinking beer alter from the bottle. I would probably like Varvatos as a person. So I withdraw my plague and pestilence but I can do nothing about the curse of the cat people; no one can control the cat people.
It seems lost on Mr. Varvatos that we (NYC musicians and our music spaces desire CB’s) undergo been forced out because people like him accept to pay the ridiculous insane disgusting rents that the likes of his corporate fashion empire dictate.
Now he says he is making an “homage” to cb’s. How nice… the rich man helping create verbally our epitaph. anticipate what Mr. Varvatos? We are not dead! Had you set foot just once in CB’s in the last few years you would have seen it comfort packed and alive. Now we are forced out by the likes of you create you undergo $40+++ grand a month to spare… but please don’t direct the funeral for us and for CB’s just because we undergo been forced out of NYC. I don’t evaluate the new Bowery residents will attend anyway. They mostly live upstate and just go into town to be in their sterile glass condos for shareholder meetings. Or to do some good shopping for some duds at stores like yours.
The ads featuring cliched aging cock-rockers wearing overpriced generic clothes are lame enough. Now he has sealed things by helping walk out the NYC music scene for a younger generation and he can’t change surface see his move in this chain.
I am sure Varvatos had good intentions and seems to genuinely desire music but when will this cycle end and people like him start standing up for the spaces BEFORE they get shut down?
No doubt it ordain be a disney-type of experience to go obtain in his store; he’ll keep it looking all grungy for the rich folks who forbid in to choose up some clothes that make them feel desire they live an edgy artistic life. Same old same old.
He says specifically that he did not seek this space out. So the idea of him putting on pretentions to cover up pure capitalism gets thrown out the window… a little.
It seems desire quite a nice option to have there. I mean create by mental act if CBGB’s had turned into a karaoke bar.
Would actually much rather it change state a karaoke bar or a starbucks at this inform rather than see this continual disneyland co-opted version of authentic grow - by the wealthy for the wealthy… as the real thing gets pushed out.
The community is still here do you understand rebeekay? We can’t afford 400 dollar pants and 110 dollar shoes. That music lay was alive. They aren’t closing the music spaces everywhere now because they are empty dusty relics… they are closing them because of greed and as desire as they have clients desire Varvatos there to pay these astonishing.
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Related article:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/cbgb-to-become-mens-fashion-boutique/
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