by Over the years I’ve watched store after store close in my neighborhood, as the rents kept going up. When everything closed down for the pandemic I worried about who would never reopen again. The thing is, I only cared about a couple of places and one of them is … I don’t know how to describe it, it’s kinda like a five and dime. But it’s been in the neighborhood for thirty years and I use them to buy this and that, Christmas lights, cards, office supplies. It’s called Golden Rabbit. I see that they categorize themselves as a stationary store, and yes, that makes sense.
I saw them reopen and I was happy, but today they put up going out of business signs. Their landlord was bugging them about the rent for the months they were shutdown, I read online. But when someone opened a GoFundMe campaign for them they said it was just too expensive to operate. I was all set to call Cuomo’s office to do something about it, then I thought maybe this is what they want to do.
I stopped by and asked them. “Is there anything you can do?” He shook his head. “Do you want to do anything?” Again he shook his head. “Are you just done?” And he made this gesture that I can only describe as he’s had enough.
I just feel so enormously sad. It’s not like I can’t find these things elsewhere, but these two people are the nicest people, they’ve always been there, the selection is fun and eclectic. It’s one of the last mom and pop stores in the neighborhood. Of course it will be replaced by something I don’t need and can’t afford. Goodbye Golden Rabbit. You will be greatly missed.
Oh, it’s just so sad. The only ones who are going to survive this well are the super-rich and Jeff Bezos.
I feel for the poor owner. I know sometimes when you’re done, you’re done. Probably not the way they wanted to go out.
And I’m sorry for you too. Thirty years on I can still remember holiday shopping at a stationery/everything store in a small town near our farm, you just don’t have that anymore. And I’m sorry fewer people than ever will get to experience that.
Goodbye, Golden Rabbit, go well.
I still remember the stationary stores from my youth as well. What is it about stationary stores?
So sad to hear this news. The last time I saw them (early March) they were happy that the landlord (owner of White Horse Tavern) was giving them a New lease as they were nervous that he wasn’t returning their calls all of February, but finally they signed the new lease on March then Covid 19 arrived and it destroyed the 2 kindest and loving owners of Golden Rabbit, fresh flowers, stationary, mail recieving, NY Lottery (I was lucky to win 2 Win4 numbers, 6 Win4 box numbers and several Win 3 numbers …it was my lucky place….I will miss them so much…I can only hope that they at least remain living in the West Village so that I have an opportunity to possibly run into them and thank them personally for all the laughs we had, the joy of seeing their little but efficient store…
Yeah, it’s so sad. They really were such nice people, and that was such a dependable place to shop.