Went by old Nikos today (8/19). And much to my surprise the new shop is selling many of the academic journals we're used to seeking out, the obscure periodical and, of course, soft drinks and the usual nyc fare.

I loved Nikos and Niko and Helen. Irreplaceable. However, the new shop is paying sincere homage to him and retaining much of his selection of merchandise and, with the name of the new shop.

In all fairness the new owners understand the impact our loss of Nikos upon the neighborhood and how much we miss him.

However, they are also making a full faith effort to raise the level of magazine shop above the norm to a standard that I am comfortable with and we are familiar with.

give'm a break



Besides, they'll be open 24hrs and sell things we all can use...especially in a pinch.

In all candor...in order to survive in the harsh nyc market it is necessary to merchandise more then the eclectic and the obscure.

The new shop is managing to do both.

really

But who reading this can't help but to feel unhappiness when dropping by during the day and not being able to discourse with Niko.

I hope he's taking a well deserved rest and is happy in leisure.

Backnumber joints are getting scarce. There was a good one in Philly, on Walnut west of Broad but it's probably gone too.

I live right by there and regularly bought all my magazines from that place. Great people who ran it. Great place. This sucks.

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know a good place to buy magazine back issues? Nothing esoteric, just mainstream titles. I thought there used to be a place somewhere around 20th Street that boasted of a half million issues, but I can't remember where it was and can't find it on Google. I still miss Ruby's Book Sale down on Chambers Street.

I wonder how many of you who bemoan its closure actually ever bought anything there.

Sure it offered a unique product but in this age of something called the ...oh what's that thing called again... oh yeah, the internet, makes what this store provides basically obsolete.

There's a magazine store on 14th Street between 5th & 6th.

...or you could walk to the nearby St. Mark's Books which also has a HUGE, eclectic selection of magazines.

i guess you'll have to subscribe at your favorite magazine's website.

oh, you just went in there to read for free? well, what do you expect.

Yes. This is obviously Sarah Jessica Parker's fault.

Sad.

This is one of the earliest things I remember about the city when I got here in the 80s.

I knew that place was going to close. Any time I'm walking down the street and I see some unique business that provides something you won't find on every other block in the city, I assume it's about to close down.

Thank You Sarah Jessica Parker for helping sucking out the character out of NYC.

Wow. This is one place that it will actually suck to lose. It really does seem like it's the last of it's kind. You can find ANYTHING there no matter how obscure it is. It's the only place left that carries magazines that you would actually want to read when they mainstream crap doesn't do it for you.

one side, one side...tits'n'ass comin' through...outta deh way...move it old timer...make way...c'mon.