Photos do not do justice to the experience of being in a place like ABC Carpet and Home, with its enormous loft-like floors and the look and feel of a Victorian emporium. Some floors have separate boutiques. There are even restaurants, a bakery, a cafe, and a French chocolatier. The stores sells an enormous variety of home furnishings featuring furniture, antiques, jewelry, bed & bath, lamps, chandeliers, fabric and drapery, baby and children’s goods, gifts, collectibles, etc. Click here for more photos.
This is another one of those “only-in-New York” type of places with a unique feel. An amalgam of quality goods in a historic space that is slightly worn – not the very immaculate, sanitized type of place you would find elsewhere for merchandise of this quality and price. Not that long ago, ABC was a relatively drab, utilitarian carpet outlet. From the New York Times article: “ABC has come a long way since 1897, when Sam Weinrib, an Austrian immigrant, began pushing a cart loaded with used carpeting and linoleum around the Lower East Side. Sam’s son, Max, abandoned the cart for a store under the Third Avenue El at 29th Street, and Max’s son, Jerome, moved it to the current site in 1961.” The business occupies the 7-story building (which it now owns) at 888 Broadway and 19th Street, as well as the building across the street at 861 Broadway. Read more about it here. I highly recommend visiting if you are able…enjoy the atmosphere…
Amazing picture and what an amazing place!
Have you been to another superpersonal store called Butik? It’s a small boutique that ex-supermodel Helena Christensen and Leif Sigersen opened a couple of years ago. I think it’s in the West Village. Would be fun to se some pictures from there.
Lucy & Brian – you do NYC proud! Your eclectic blog, with gorgeous photos and lots of background info, is a true gem.
(btw – did you bathe this shot in sepia or are the colors natural?)
Fredrik – I have not been to Butik, but I will check it out!
Isabella – The color is fairly close, perhaps slightly more yellow do to the auto white balance setting – I did not adjust specifically for incandescent.
Brian
I love shooting in ABC! But your photo is a different view that I usually shoot, since I’ve done close-ups in the past–I really like the wider angle, since it shows the true character of the store.
Such a yummy looking store. If this doesn’t capture the feel, I can’t imagine how truely wonderful it must be.
I would love to stop in there the next time I’m in NYC!
I love unique places…especially if they’re in an old building!
It feels like an upscale bazaar. What a treat to see!
I’m still posting away on Palm Springs Daily Photo. Hope you can link to me at http://palmspringsdailyphoto.blogspot.com
wow that shop looks amazing! I could spend a lot of money there!
I have been to this store a couple of times and I can only describe it as luscious! I have dreamed about returning someday. Beautiful, just beautiful.