Gem Spa is one of those real classic New York places. In business for 70 years, located at St. Marks Place and 2nd Avenue in the East Village, this place would certainly not stand out as anything special to the visitor or non-resident (an online search will bring up numerous articles and reviews). It is a newspaper stand/magazine shop/soda fountain, and at one time, before the spate of magazine cafes and super bookstores, its extensive selection was a rarity. And they are renowned as the last place serving an authentic New York egg cream soda, the origins of which are still debated. If you haven’t had one, go there and have an unpolished NYC experience. Here’s a peek inside…
Thanks for sharing this hidden gem. 😉
The neighbors look interesting too. I guess like most NYC real estate there’s a lot packed into this place.
What a great place!!
We get NY egg creams WAYyyyy upstate in the Adirondacks – but I bet it’s not as nice as in Here!
would love to try the NY eggs cream,,sounds yummy!
And long may they stay in business. I love your virtual tours by the way.
interesting post and truly a hidden gem, it even has a money machine!
Interesting to look at the store I used to work at as a child (in the 50’s). My family (The Goldfeders) owned “Gem Spa” for over 50 years and claim to be the true “inventors” of the egg cream, Louis Auster’s claim notwithstanding. Thanks for the memories …
And, of course, the New York Dolls had a picture on the back of their first album with them posing here. 🙂
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