Goodbye CBGB, Hello...John Varvatos?

Last week demolition was underway at the former CBGB. At the time Racked put their money on a Duane Reade taking over the space, but today The Post reports that John Varvados will be opening a chic boutique in the old punk rock palace. With his eye on a Spring opening, it's unclear how much of the 13,000 square feet will be taken over by the designer.

Before you get your black leather punk panties in a bunch, let's take a look at Varvatos. Last year he made Iggy Pop his model, putting him in a pinstripe suit in Central Park and making the CBGB-alum a new face of fashion. In fact, most legendary rockers love Varvatos -- the Detroit designer has put Slash, Ryan Adams and Alice Cooper in his threads. Cooper even told the press at Fashion Week last month "Everything I'm wearing is John Varvatos now." What's more, Mr. V also makes his own Converse -- just like the Ramones. So we're betting he'll keep the CBGB feel in his new Bowery boutique -- it'll just smell better, and cost more.

Photo via rummenigge's flickr.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on October 23, 2007 11:11 AM

Comments [rss]

JGNY

CBGB's was outdated and a representation of itself by the time it closed anyway. However, greedy landlords are forcing out the once unique business's that gave each neighborhood in New York its own character and identity. No matter how Varvatos dresses up the place it will still be a place where only the privileged can buy things made in Bangladesh. In the end we are going to be left with one large neighborhood called Manhattan and if you are not a chic boutique, mega-chain, or bank then there is no room for you here. Unless an economic depression brings on a crime wave and the real estate market tumbles this Manhattanization (forget gentrification, it is outdated and too slow) will spread from it's 1980's SoHo epicenter to the far reaches of Rockaway. If you want it to stop then support your local business's and eateries and don't pay 7.50 for a cup of frozen yogurt.

Tim N.

"... it'll just smell better."

Could it smell worse?

Toby von Meistersinger

On the up side it is not a Duane Reade or a bank, although they would be more useful.

chuzzlewit

slash,ryan adams and alice cooper are choads.

giraffo

Punk is dead.

I think it's odd/interesting that Varvatos' ads feature rock stars, the most notable one being Iggy Pop. I wonder what he would think about a John Varvatos boutique being put into the old CBGB space.