Candy, Cobblers, and Revolvers


There are certain places in NYC that people rave about as being “so unique” and “must see.” I’m trying to think of good examples, but the only one that’s coming to mind is Magnolia Bakery, bakers of cupcakes whose recipe consists entirely of ludicrous amounts of sugar, butter, and flour. Don’t get me wrong, they’re good, but are they really worth standing in a 15 minute line for? It’s one of those things where you’re waiting, and you look around and see that the ratio of tourists to residents is about 5 to 1, and everyone is talking excitedly about the Sex and the City episode they saw it on, and how charming the 1950s-esque interior is, and eventually, you have no choice but to quietly excuse yourself from the line.

For some reason, I always thought Economy Candy was in the same ballpark. I’d heard the same ravings about it from friends, and avoided it for presumptuous reasons. I visited today for the first time, and I feel like an idiot for not going sooner.

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I was scouting the Lower East Side today, where the store was founded in 1937. You can check out their website here.

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As is obvious, the entire focus here is candy. Candy, candy, and more candy. Chocolate, fruity, gum, jelly beans, old-fashioned, hard to find, whatever it may be, there’s a pretty good bet they have it. The windows alone should give some indication of this:

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Inside, the place is literally stacked floor to ceiling/wall to wall with candy. You can even buy it in 5 or 10 pound bags.

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I mean, pretty much everything imaginable…

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…including 1986 Topps baseballs cards that still have the gum inside. I think I’ll try some one day when I’m feeling particularly suicidal.

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I didn’t buy any of these, but I wish I had:

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Bags of Gold Mine nugget bubble gum. Pretty cool, and only 99 cents.

After I bought some Pez and chocolates for my girlfriend, I went out, passing a delivery that would make Willy Wonka salivate.

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Down on Allen St, there’s a park that divides the road in half, and you can always find cobblers from Chinatown at work. It’s pretty amazing to see them attacking leather with hammers and nails. It’s also amazing that there are still people who regularly require the assistance of a cobbler. I’ve passed these guys several times this week, and they always have business. Note that everything this guy needs is on his cart, complete with a generator to keep it all running.

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Finally, I was heading back through Soho when I noticed this interesting sign above a door…

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Humane Police Equipment, right below the picture of a gun. Awesome.

-SCOUT


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9 Comments

  1. I just found your blog so I’m going through the archives. When I saw the package of Topps above, it brought back warm memories. 86 was the year I began collecting cards and I have many fond memories of these packs. Thanks for taking that photo and well as all the others on this site.

  2. The gun shop looks like it’s on Centre Market, across from the old police building. Now the street is full of pricey boutiques and such, as ‘Nolita’ and its expensive crap have crept southward, but there used to be a couple gun shops there, at least into the mid-90s.

    Just strolling through the archves here as well, after randomly landing on the site (via the Sears Roebuck building on Bedford Ave.). Great stuff.

  3. I remember buying Gold Mine gum when I was in grade school or younger (mid-late 1970s). I’m amazed that they’re still selling it – or maybe that candy is also vintage.

    Excellent blog – I recommend it to all my friends.

  4. Magnolia’s cupcakes are, in my opinion, the most overrated I’ve ever tasted. Bath caulk tastes better than their frosting, and a bath sponge has better texture than the cake. I’m rather thankful to Sex and The City for diverting so many people to Magnolia, and away from the other places that have quality, edible cupcakes.

  5. Awesome info and straight to the point. I really the style you use here for making the article more interesting. Thanks we really appreciate your effort.

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