Hells Angels Add Tourist Repeller To Bench

It is kind of hilarious that the Hells Angels cannot find a way to keep tourists off their precious street bench. (Don't tell them we said that, though.) Outside of their clubhouse at 77 East 3rd Street, they have a wooden bench—not unlike any wooden bench you'd see around the city—and they really do not want commoners sitting on it. In Google street view it can be seen turned over, back in 2009 they added a sign warning others to stay away from the bench, and now EV Grieve has photos of the latest effort to keep unwelcome sitters (specifically from a nearby hotel) away. Yep, that's a Club-like device for benches. If this doesn't work, we suggest they chain a television to the bench and screen select footage from Altamont.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on February 7, 2011 4:55 PM

Comments [rss]

hb78

Who was there first? None of you posters, that's for sure.

ganghiscon

Being that it's zip tied, doesn't this prevent the club from using the bench as well? Or are they going to cut the ties every time they want to sit there and then reapply again when they're done? It seems like it would just be easier (and more fun) to scare tourists away whenever they do sit there.

whatidsay

Given that the bench in question looks pretty much like standard NYC-Parks-Department-issued seating, I'm curious to know exactly where it came from to begin with.

robingee

They are just sick of Forrest Gump hanging out there.

I would think tourists would not want to lounge around outside Hell's Angels clubhouse.

just saying

However, the "tourists" in question are most likely foreign tourists from Europe who are unfamiliar with Hell's Angels.

For all they know, Hell's Angels is just another wacky U.S. religious cult.

jibbly

I think Hell's Angels have become irrelevant enough that tourists have no idea who they are.

robingee

That's true. If tourists are sitting on benches outside their clubhouse, how scary can they be?

just saying

Hell's Angels would have better luck keeping people off the bench by just replacing their current sign with one that reads "Wet Paint!!"

Dirk

They can do that. But then some joker will rip up the sign and rearrange it so it says "AINT WET".

Peanut_Butter

Uh...I suggest you do not test them.

Mordicai

When will hooligans stop harassing the Hells Angels?

just saying

What's the problem with the bench? Are Hell's Angels afraid that a few tired tourists will wear it out? This kind of behavior is petty, obviously ungracious and not befitting their illustrious image. And besides, Hell's Angels already take up more than their fair share of the street with their bikes (do they even pay taxes?).

It greatly pains me to see how the once-proud NYC chapter of Hell's Angels has turned into a bunch of crabby old women.

l3iodeez

"petty, obviously ungracious and not befitting their illustrious image"

Have you ever known bikers to be gracious? Its not really their thing.