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[UPDATE] On Saturday February 7th there will be a public memorial for Joe Ades in Union Square; details here.
The city lost one its quintessential characters Sunday when the enigmatic Joe Ades died after decades spent selling his $5 vegetable peelers at the Union Square Greenmarket, and other locations around town. Ades, born in Manchester, England, was an unavoidable and entertaining presence at Union Square, and eventually became something of a media darling for his loud, hypnotic patter; his distinctive suits; and his incongruous Park Avenue address. [Video of Ades in action below.]
Despite numerous media profiles in New York dailies, TV, and even the pages of Vanity Fair, Ades never revealed how much he made off the Swiss peelers, which he claimed to be "the finest ever made." But he was a regular at Upper East Side restaurants, and Kathleen Landis, a pianist at the Pierre Hotel, told the Today Show last year that Ades "would show up each evening to hear me play, and buy an expensive bottle of champagne." That's where he met his fourth wife, who left him the Park Avenue apartment when she died in 2007.
While leading the Today Show on a tour of the well-appointed three-bedroom, Ades remarked, "Never underestimate a small amount of money gathered by hand for 60 years." [Today video also after the jump.] He's survived by his daughter Ruth Ades Laurent, whose husband's family runs La Ripaille Restaurant in the West Village, two grandaughers, and two sons in Australia. Speaking to the Times, Ms. Laurent recalled that sometimes she would go looking for him in Union Square at the end of the day, only to find him gone, "but still there were these little shreds of carrots that said, 'I was here.'"
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Aww man...
BTW, I love the peeler I got from him. I'm sad!
R.I.P.
Now I regret never having purchased one. He was a great showman.
Condolences to his family, what a class act. He leaves the world a less interesting place; we lost a showman.
This is a sad day. I loved that guy. I hope he's in a better place.
F*^k!
S#*t!
You will be missed, Joe.
I have several peelers I bought for him. The first one was downtown, on Broadway, across from Century 21. I was in a hurry and wanted one fast and tried to interrupt his routine - which, I realized, upset him. As I was paying he said: "get one for a friend too - if you have any, that is"
later, in Union Square, I always felt bad for him sitting in the burning sun. But I knew better than to ever interrupt.
My daughter only uses his peeler - for years.
"get one for a friend too - if you have any, that is"
he sounds like an a-hole
You see a-hole, i see witty repartee.. welcome to new york.
Absolutely witty, or they way he would have probably put it "saucy". It's why I kept buying peelers from him - or at least watching his routines years after that.
I miss him.
Oh no. How sad. (That was a cute story, Not Your Sweetie.)
that's what I thought I would get from him if I interrupted his show. I think that's why he doesn't have a price shown for the item.
They really are good peelers...ergonomic and easy to use. I wanted to go see him again to learn how to do some of the tricks. Guess I can't! Sad.
Damn...... :-(
A great salesman and a true New Yorker.
I've seen this dude for at least over 15 years. I always thought he was faking the english accent to sell the peelers. Sad that he's gone but good to know he lived a comfortable life. Hopefully the dude that sells toy mice on a string is still alive.
Wow, he must have done great:
children,
4th wife ?
A Park Ave home ?
Lucky man.
Aw that's terrible news.
I used to watch him sell peelers downtown on Fulton and Nassau street for years!
It's a sad day...
Sad to hear, he was always friendly and entertaining.
oh no! :( carrots will never be the same.
A New York icon... the farmers market just wont be the same.
He made my day every time I saw him. He will be missed.
What about the poor carrots he mutilated for decades at his expense?
Just kidding, sounds like an interesting fellow who lived a good life.
Just ruined my day - that guy was an establishment. They don't make them like that anymore.
Oh man, this seriously bums me out. He's so great. I love my peeler. :(
Aw... now I want a peeler! Sadness.
Met him a few times. Great spirit, great man and great company.
the world is worse off for the loss of hard working people. every time i saw him on the street it made me feel better about "us" as a society. hoping there is a memorial of sorts for this icon of a new yorker.
some could say that it is far reaching to put such a person on a pedestal, and that he was just a simple salesman. but to see someone put that drive and energy into their work is inspiring. if nothing else, a large number of people are sad today, for the loss of a man that simply sold peelers, but the way in which he did it touched some. its like that old phrase, that i am about to butcher, Live such that when you die, even the undertaker is sad to see you go.
anyone want to meet at a union square bar?
I thought about him the other day...
Now where will I find those damn peelers?
A sad day, indeed.
I used to get the feeling he was following me around - he was everywhere I went - Union Square, 42nd and 5th, down by Century 21.
I bought a peeler for my ex BF and he scoffed. I wish I had it back.
I'm sure glad he wore gloves while peeling, those hands look really grizzled...
Rest in peace Mr. Ades.
Be it near Wall St. or the Fashion District, all of New York city has gotten a little bit colder today.
Join Facebook group/memorial dedicated in his honor, search: Joe Ades
One of the many things i miss now that i work in soulless midtown.
Normally there's never an only-in-New-York person or sight that I'll miss, so I always felt like a jerk for never stopping to see his shpiel in action. I'd noticed him in Union Square, the South Street Seaport Market, and even on Court Street in Brooklyn Heights (near Borough Hall). All my friends who knew him loved the whole bit. Now I really wish I'd bought one.
Maybe I'll go to Court Street tonight and leave a couple carrot peels on his corner, to let everyone know he was here.
Rest in peace... I know joe as the carrot peeler on 59th street and lex.. I always said hi to him when i passed and happily use my peeler once or twice a week. He was a helluva character and will be a sorely missed fixture in nyc. We'll be having peeled carrots for dinner tonight. thank you joe.
I'd like to say this: Joe, NYC will collectively miss you.
http://jpgmag.com/photos/1030373
I saw this man in chinatown on grand st once and was captivated by his persona.
RIP
Probably the only street vendor in the history of NYC that actually paid taxes on what he sold.
A life well lived. I'm making beef stew tonight in his honor- involves lots of peeling.
RIP, whether he needed the money or not, he put in a lot of work hustlin' those vegetable peelers over the years.
Joe, i'll peel some carrots in the street in your memory...
RIP -- true Ny'er
Always had a smile for me when I walked passed him...
RIP
I read at least 2 paid obits in the NY Times announcing his death. Years ago I met a guy named Ades, who, I think, was the president of a bank in Queens and I thought it was him. Little did I know it was the guy selling the peelers in Union Sq Park. I used to stop and listen to his pitch and enjoyed him and the crowd that gathered. Rest in peace, you are missed.
RIP -- I'll think of you as I make my next batch of carrot 'flowers'
Least cynical person I have ever seen, with the most class.
End of an era. I love this man.
http://flickr.com/photos/campen/2548557847/
neat guy. we loved having him around.
SA PUBLIC INVITATION // FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Februrary 4, 2009
To honor the passing of Joe Ades, the widely-renowned and much-beloved carrot-peeler peddler who frequented the Union Square Greenmarket, we invite the New York City community to join us in remembering his presence and his terrific salesmanship. We will gather at the statue on the south side of Union Square park on Saturday, February 7th, at 1pm and invite everyone to bring memories, anecdotes, and of course, a peeler and carrots or potatoes. As we join together to peel, we will create a temporary vegetable memorial that will incorporate stories and photos that the community brings to share.
WE WILL REMEMBER JOE ADES
:::::::::::::::::::::::
on the south steps of Union Square,
Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 1:00 PM.
Bring a peeler, carrots and potatoes.
Traditional memorial offerings are also welcome.
contact: rememberjoeades@gmail.com
In Memoriam to Joe Ades, a great man with a beautiful soul.
He will be missed even as far away as Hawaii.
The, "I" represents, "God" in this Hawaiian prayer.
Me ke aloha pumehana Joe Ades. May you rest in His Eternal peace.
THE PEACE OF " I "
KA MALUHIA O KA "I"
Peace be with you, All My Peace,
O ka Maluhia no me oe, Ku'u Maluhia a pau loa,
The Peace that is " I ", the Peace that is "I am".
Ka Maluhia o ka "I", owau no ka Maluhia,
The Peace for always, now and forever and evermore.
Ka Maluhia no na wa a pau, no ke'ia wa a mau a mau loa aku.
My Peace " I " give to you, My Peace " I " leave with you,
Ha'awi aku wau I ku'u Maluhia ia oe, waiho aku wau I ku'u Maluhia me oe,
Not the world's Peace, but, only My Peace,
The Peace of " I ".
A'ole ka Maluhia o ke ao aka, ka'u Maluhia wale no,
Ka Maluhia o ka "I".
RIP, Joe!
I didn't know until I was on the way to work today and saw a sign taped to one of your favorite stoops in the Square. Then I RAN to work and looked for what I was afraid of...all the articles. He passed on my bday.
I always wanted to get a peeler...and like I saw someone else write somewhere - all the "being in a hurry" costs you eventually...when you think "I'll talk to them later" and never get to.
Sad day today.
Thanks for posting about him. Yours was the first post I saw.
Whatta shame. There just aren't enough vegetable-peeling barker/salesmen out there anymore.
He had a family; can't one of his kids start where he left off? Apparently, it pays well, and people still need peelers, according to this thread!
RIP, Joe. I hope you get to make yummy slaw for "da Big guy" in the sky.
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