In 1971, a 20-year-old trade embargo against China was lifted as a result of President Richard Nixon’s normalization of relations with China. One vendor had already imported goods into Manhattan via Hong Kong in anticipation of this. The day after the lifting of the embargo, Ming-Yi Chen, who was born in China, grew up in Taiwan, and came to the United States in 1965, had started selling an entire line of mainland Chinese goods at his shop (then called Chinese Native Products, Ltd.) at 22 Catherine Street. At the time, the sign was only in Chinese, brandishing the characters Shih-Sin, meaning “four virtues.” In 1977, they moved to Elizabeth Street. But its move in 1987 to a 15,000-square-foot loft space on the second and third floors on Canal Street and Broadway (at 277 Broadway) is where Pearl River Mart became known as THE Chinese department store (in a dismal location). Now, Pearl River has a new home: a full floor at 477 Broadway in the trendier SoHo, just north of its previous Chinatown location.

Pearl has thousands of items, nearly everything imaginable: clothes, satin slippers, birdcages, paper parasols, lamps, cookware, food items, sushi sets, bamboo rice steamers, teapots, kimono-style robes, herbal remedies, live bamboo plants, windowshades, toys, furniture, Buddha statues, and more. This is one of those lesser-known NYC icons – single-location, family-owned, and a unique product line – a true mecca for all things Asian. Pearl is also known for their pricing, and although the hardcore Chinatown aficionados will tell you that they are not the cheapest anymore (it’s a badge of honor in the city to be in the know), I think you should check it out…

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…

What is seen in NYC as an encroachment by mass merchandisers and corporate chains is often seen out of the city as an asset. Frequently, the small independent store is not an option, so consumers are more appreciative just to have access to the merchandise. Many of the largest chains (including some of the “big box” operations) are now moving into the city, even in Manhattan, where space is at a premium, e.g. Whole Foods, Best Buy, Home Depot, Starbucks, and Guitar Center (shown in the photo). Many of these large merchandisers were started as small independents by individuals passionate about their field and not with intentions of rolling out nationally. Although they have paid their dues, this does not justify the type of overly aggressive tactics alleged to be used by places such as Walmart and Starbucks, who are seen by some as purveyors of evil.

The internet has had a substantial impact on most businesses selling a product, but many products are still best seen in person. Musical instruments are a prime example – unless they know exactly what they want, musicians need to do a hands-on evaluation. In the case of Barnes and Noble or Guitar Center, I personally do not see these particular chains with such foreboding as others because 1) reading a book or playing a musical instrument are activities requiring time, patience, and active participation. There are no shortcuts – these merchants can only pander so much to instant gratification. 2) I would much prefer to see a Barnes and Noble or Guitar Center over a fast-food chain.

The biggest loss is with the knowledge of the staffing, which generally just can’t compete with a long-time employee or owner of a small mom-and-pop operation. Many consumers feel conflicted about these large chains – although we dislike the concept (with “crass commercialism” and the “dumbing down of society” being popular refrains), in reality, they often provide broader selection, lower pricing, and longer hours (not to mention more space for reading or playing instruments), which most consumers now want. After all, if you need to replace an A string on a Sunday night, where else are you going to go?

Bleecker Bob’s Golden Oldies at 118 West 3rd Street in the Village is a destination for buyers and sellers of vinyl LPs. Click here for more photos. It has had several different shop locations in the immediate neighborhood. Bob Plotnik (still the current owner) opened the original store on Bleecker Street in 1967. I have no real opinion of this shop regarding pricing, inventory, or service – I am not a current buyer or seller of vinyl LPs, and my visits there are few. But it is a landmark with its distinctive, homey, funky New York-style decor and ambiance.

With vinyl experiencing a niche renaissance and the decline of physical CDs due to digital downloads, I believe their chances of survival are much better than stores selling CDs, many of which have closed. While CDs are in decline and catering more and more to a graying market, the market for new vinyl is actually growing. DJs in electronic dance or hip hop music prefer LPs for the direct manipulation of the disc (slip-cueing, beatmatching, and scratching). In the used market, many covet vinyl LPs for their cover art. And there are still some audiophiles who prefer vinyl and claim a sonic superiority over the CD –  a debate which has raged since the beginning of CD production.

There are also nostalgia and cult factors at work here. In the case of Bleecker Bob’s, I’m sure all of these factors drive customers to them, and I would imagine that many of their customers are looking for music which is not available on CD and perhaps never will be…