The Commercial Observer » Nate Freeman

Scandal Report: The City Suns Itself in Miami For Art Basel

Nate Freeman — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:30:37 -0400

Chain Stores and Brand Names Descend Upon Williamsburg

Nate Freeman — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:43:12 -0400

Yesterday we learned that R.J. Reynolds, the enormous cigarette manufacturer, would be rolling out a new type of Camels: Williamsburg Camels. Why would that cigarette company take this quaint neighborhood in Brooklyn, exploit it, and use its imagery to lure teens to cigarettes? Oh, right, because they believe Williamsburg is "the most famous hipster neighborhood" in the country. Needless to say residents were less than pleased.

Now, The New York Times discusses more evidence of commercialism that has blood boiling across the East River. With the area's second Duane Reade newly opened, and a CVS and Starbucks on the way, those who count the plight of independent stores among their hard-fought causes are up in arms about the imposition of chains.

“Duane Reade is greed,” Jonathan Schmidt said after shopping at King’s Pharmacy. That store is directly across Bedford from the new two-story, 24-hour Duane Reade, which features aspirin, liquor, cosmetics, stationery, frozen food, cold cuts and produce, including three kinds of cherry tomatoes. “It’s becoming the East Village.”

Williamsburg, though, is probably still a far cry from the East Village. Within a one-mile radius of Allen Ginsberg's old apartment — a candidate for East Village epicenter if there ever was one — there are nine Starbucks locations.

nfreeman [at] observer.com | @nfreeman1234

After New Hampshire Poll, Donald Trump ‘Seriously’ Considering White House Run

Nate Freeman — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:04:08 -0400

A telephone poll was conducted last month in the early primary state of New Hampshire asking whether or not real estate mogul Donald Trump would be a viable candidate for the presidency.

Trump denied having any knowledge of the poll, and at first played coy on whether or not it was an indicator of any future political aspirations. Now, today on Fox and Friends, Trump said he was "seriously" considering throwing his hat in the ring in 2012, the New York Post reports.

"For the first time in my life, I'm actually thinking about it [running for president]," Trump told Fox News Channel. He added, "I see what's going on with this country and it's never been worse. What's happening is a disgrace."

When asked what party he would affiliate himself with, Trump said the Republican party.

The poll, which was first reported on by Time magazine on Monday, mentioned a variety of potential candidates and pairings, but 30 of the questions were about Trump.

The potential Republican candidate today continued to deny that he had any part in the New Hampshire poll, but did mention that "I hear the results are amazing."

It’s Official: Century 21 Takes Barnes & Noble Space

Nate Freeman — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:18:33 -0400

A release from brokerage Cushman & Wakefield confirms that Century 21 will indeed open its second Manhattan store in the space evacuated by the Lincoln Square Barnes & Noble. Century 21 had just yesterday denied rumors that the switch was afoot.

MyUpperWest reported that the department store would be opening a branch at the 61,000-square-foot uptown space at 66th and Broadway, but when reached by The Observer, a Century 21 representative denied any such move. That denial is now turning out to be incorrect.

Century 21 will begin to develop the location in February 2011, after the bookseller moves out in January. The sure-to-be massive storefront is expected to open its doors the following fall. It will be the first branch built in Manhattan since the flagship opened at 22 Cortlandt Street in 2000.

Gene Spiegelman, who brokered the deal for Cushman & Wakefield, was not one to downplay the massive importance of the news. "Century 21 presented the landlord with the unique opportunity to replace one New York icon with another New York icon," he said in the release.

And when this massive branch of a giant national clothing chain gets mobbed by tourists at all hours of the day, it will become a kind of icon, in its own funny way. Enjoy, Upper West Siders!

Century 21 Reportedly Moving Into UWS Barnes & Noble Space; Rep Denies Rumor

Nate Freeman — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:57:07 -0400

With Barnes & Noble set to vacate its premises at Broadway at 66th due to skyrocketing rent, could another retail chain with a tendency toward giant storefronts be taking its place? MyUpperWest is reporting a rumor that department store Century 21 will fill the empty racks of books with racks of discount faux-designer duds. However, when reached by The Observer, a representative for Century 21 denied that the company was opening a store in that location.

The clothing juggernaut would likely not appease those already mourning the loss of their neighborhood's Barnes & Noble. A story in The New York Times found that the many fans of the store's uptown branch would come to buy books, attend readings, or just "kill time."

If the rumor turns out to be just that — a rumor — those living near the new Broadway and 66th location of Century 21 will have to miss out on the swarms of tourists who currently flood the clothing distributor's downtown location, the chain's flagship store. To many, even just killing time would be preferable.

nfreeman@observer.com

Parts of New York Not Called the Empire State Building Are Celebrating Mother Teresa Right Now

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:41:15 -0400

Happy birthday, Mother Teresa! If you were alive, you would be 100 years old—not that anyone's counting. In fact, instead of talking about how you spent your life helping people in India, everyone is busy either celebrating you or protesting the fact that you're not being celebrated. Right now, there's a rally organized by the Catholic League being held at the base of the Empire State Building to protest building owner Anthony Malkin's decision to reject the league's request for blue and white lights in your honor! Instead, tonight Mr. Malkin is illuminating his prime piece of real estate in a red, white and blue lighting scheme to honor Women's Equality Day. Since the Catholic League's proposal failed, the group has amassed a petition that is 40,000 signatures strong decrying the lack of your favorite colors on New York's tallest skyscraper. The League's birthday bash will feature speakers from within the organization, the State Senate, the City Council, and elsewhere.

You'd love it.

Besides, we have other buildings and stuff. Times Square, the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and Borough Hall will be draped in blue and white. There was a Mass earlier today for you at St. Patrick's (you probably know that?). And City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has asked New Yorkers to place battery-operated blue and white candles in their windows. So there's that, too.

Why exactly did Mr. Malkin refuse to light up his historic skyscraper on your behalf? His response to the debate came in a press release: "As a privately owned building, ESB has a specific policy against any other lighting for religious figures or requests by religions and religious organizations." There is no such prohibition involving smokin' hot pop songstresses, such as Mariah Carey in 2008. Perhaps Mr. Malkin places himself in the same camp as Christopher Hitchens, the guy who in 2003 announced in his typically bombastic style that you were a "fanatic, a fundamentalist, and a fraud." Zing!

For New Yorkers wanting to celebrate your birthday, there are two major options then: bask in blue and white in Times Square or Borough Hall, or release some anger protesting at the lack of blue and white at the Empire State Building. Choices, choices...