Does this look chaotic and rather unappealing? Perhaps a less-than-ideal photo subject or setting? It is. This is Pearl Paint on Canal Street. For those of you who are not familiar with Canal Street, let’s just say it’s not for those looking for the bucolic setting of 121 Charles Street, 39 & 41 Commerce Street, or the Boat Pond in Central Park, but it is home to some of NYC’s shopping emporiums, both present and past (mostly past; sadly, fixtures such as Canal Hardware and Industrial Plastics have closed).
Pearl Paint is NYC’s largest art store – the mecca for art supplies in the city. Their website claims to be the first and largest discount art supply house. Plausible, since they started as a regular paint store on Chambers Street and have been in business since 1933. As SoHo/Tribeca became a haven for artists, Pearl responded by getting into art supplies. They have 5 floors across two adjoining buildings and 3 additional store fronts: The Craft Center, Frame Shop, and Home Decorating Center on Lispenard Street (which can be accessed through the rear exit of the main store).
Pearl now has over 20 stores in 10 states. Their flagship store at 308 Canal Street is the ultimate in classic New York Style – a little disheveled and a little rough around the edges. Most take the dreary, creaky stairs up and down the five floors – the elevator in the rear is probably unknown to most and painfully slow anyway. No glitz here, just the real deal. These guys have everything…
How long did you waited for only white cars being in front of Pearl Paint? 😉
Nice and clear photograph 😀
Red car behind BMW paint in this picture! 🙂
prokur –
I actually just waited for no trucks to be in the way. The white cars were a convenient accident.
Brian
What colors !!!
I think i like this less-than-perfect place….if all places were as perfect as others, it kinda takes away the character from a city…
I, too, like this place–it has character! It must be a great shop to visit. The link to the steps showed the tin ceiling quite well, and I wonder if it’s the original?
It makes a refreshing change from the sameness of many of our modern emporiums – and that is worldwide, not confined to one country.
Vive la difference!!
hi brian,
i’ve been following your blog since i started planning my new york trip a few months ago amazed by all the things this city has to offer. in two days the time will finally come and i wonder if you have any tips for a photographer on how to approach the city? is there a special code of conduct? are there any no-go areas or things you should avoid under nay cirumstances? feel free to contact me at jerome(at)sharp-shooter.eu
keep on shooting
jerome
http://www.sharp-shooter.eu
moi –
Virtually every artist I’ve met prefers the less manicured lawn. I know the unique and slightly askew atmosphere can be appealing.
Kate – I would imagine the ceiling is original. I doubt that Pearl would have invested in the stairwell.
an honest man – ‘Tis true. We are seeing homogeneity worldwide. What used to make NYC unique (like other cities) is fast disappearing. I don’t think that it is conspiratorial or an orchestrated plan, just a confluence of different factors including economics and cultural changes. Of course some of this is shaped by business, marketing etc.
Brian
This building is like candy to my eyes. Thanks.
I always appreciated that those “dreary creaky stairs” smelled like good old oils and turpentine.
The best thing about Pearl Paint, I think, is that the staff knows the answer to every possible art-supply related question. I have never, ever seen them stumped.
From the smell of the oil paint, to the wooden stairs and floors, I love this store and have gone here for 30 years. The array of colors in the paint section and the different brands offered makes it hard to choose. I love this place and hope they never re-do it, it would be a shame. The best prices too, definitely worth the trip from Staten Island that I make.
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You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your
next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
Hello! Would you mind if I shasre your blog with my
titter group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate
your content. Please let mme know. Thanks
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the layout of your blog?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a llittle more in the way of content so people could connect
with it better. Youve got ann awful lot of text for only having
1 orr 2 images. Maybe you could spoace itt out better?
It was the first store from where I bought my art supplies when I started. Sad to see them shutting their business after so long. I suppose I will purchase online from jerryartarama more now. Are there any other good stores left in NYC that provide good discount?