Patron of the New patrons robbed at gunpoint

Three men were robbed at gunpoint on Franklin Street on Tuesday in front of Patron of the New, sending customers, local residents and passers-by to scatter, duck behind cars and generally high-tail it off the block within seconds. No shots were fired, but the robbery was still successful: police said three individuals “displaying firearms and demanding money” fled in a dark vehicle with $9200 in cash and $5000 worth of personal property.

The incident took place just after 5p at 151 Franklin; the victims were two 31-year-old men and a 26-year-old man.

One neighbor said he was walking home when he saw young men get out of a car and seem to take aim with guns. People on the block then ran away — fast — as did he. That was the last he saw of the scene.

“It was really quite brazen,” said the neighbor. “Gunmen on Franklin Street in broad daylight. It’s really getting out of hand.”

Another neighbor said he spoke to an employee the next day who said the suspects robbed people standing in front of the store by gunpoint. When I went by the store, no one would talk to me, and when I then called to ask about the robbery, the man answering the phone said “we had nothing to do with it” and hung up — twice. Police said there is no description of the suspects, which is very odd given that the victims spoke to police and there were other witnesses.

 

Patron of the New is a super-high end, somewhat secret, celebrity-favorite boutique of contemporary casual fashion — you could call it the land of the $700 sweatshirt. It’s a beautiful store — with an unfinished, cement floor aesthetic and lots of room to browse — though they never removed the plywood after the June looting so it’s got even more of a hideaway feel. Neighbors said that since they are limiting store occupancy to four people at a time, there is regularly a line of people waiting to get in stretching down Franklin.

It was opened in 2011 by Tribecan Al Abayan, who now has the equally beautiful and carefully curated shop RE:AL on Laight and Hudson, and his partner Lisa Pak, though it now seems to be owned by Pak and her son Jonathan. “I wanted a store that created dreams,” Abayan said at the time. “Sure, there are fancy expensive clothes, but there’s also $10 mosquito spray. There can be anything as long as it’s the right taste level.”

 

19 Comments

  1. Reads like an ad.

  2. Hopefully New York City residents remember these shameful episodes in November and next year during the Mayor election…
    This is what you get with lunatic democrats leading cities and government

  3. An armed robbery a block and a half away from the 1st precinct. Brings new meaning to the word brazen. Looks more like thieves now realize they can commit crimes without fear of arrest, or, if arrested, they will be released within 24 hours without bail.

  4. Perhaps we Tribeca citizens could hold a fundraiser for Pct 1 so they can afford to police our neighborhood as they did during the Giuliani & Bloomberg eras? Alternatively, we could create a nonprofit that would employ off-duty / retired cops to police the streets – we’d pay OT wages (prob better than what they’re getting from De Blasio).

    I’m surprised people haven’t started robbing outdoor diners – imagine eating dinner at the Odeon and then a car pulls up on W Bway. With the engine running, people could easily demand wallets, purses, jewelry, etc. and speed off…that would probably be a better score than Patron of the New.

    Be safe, my neighbors…

    • Yeah, the Giuliani & Bloomberg days when minorities were constantly harassed, assaulted, and sometimes killed by police for no reason other than them being black or brown. Sounds like the good ol days. What’s your next idea? Bring back Jim Crow?

  5. when i walk by this part of franklin, there has been alot of young people loitering near the area.

    i agree that tribeca should consider more police patrols in our area. need to reduce the loitering and homeless enclaves

    • Young people=bad.

      Old Tribecans=good.

      Police should patrol rich neighborhood with ultra luxe boutiques but and ignore the rest of NYC. Got it.

      • @QU: your equation is wrong and/or logic is flawed.

        Young people who shop at POTN = rich
        Criminals who rob rich young people = bad
        People who are not criminals (incl some old Tribecans) = not bad

        I don’t think @scared intended any “ageist” implications – truth be told, POTN’s market base skews younger. You don’t see too many folks spending their social security checks there on the latest Eric Emanuel drop…

        The last time I checked, many areas in NYC want to defund the NYPD. Perhaps this is a leap, but my guess is that most Tribecans would prefer more police – especially as of late. Let’s allocate resources to those who value (and pay for) them.

  6. It’s called paid detail:

    “In the Spring of 1998, the New York City Police Department introduced a program that allows New York City Police Officers to perform off-duty uniformed security work within New York City. This program is coordinated by the NYPD’s Paid Detail Unit. This is the only authorized program for uniformed NYPD off-duty employment. The following information will help prospective vendors (customers) understand this program by answering some of the most commonly asked questions.

    “WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

    “Any event planner, corporation or interested organization can be a possible vendor with several exceptions. (Licensed premises, government and quasigovernmental entities, security companies, and personal protection/bodyguard situations are specifically excluded.) […]

    “Anyone interested in additional information is encouraged to contact the Paid Detail Unit at (646) 610-5115 between the hours of 8 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.’

    PDF download here:

    http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/public_information/nypd-258_paid_details_2016-06-16.pdf

  7. Four syllables: DeBlasio. He has left the city for ruin. This is what happens when we have someone in charge who has no idea what he is doing and is in favor of the protests and riots.

  8. this is only the beginning. Thank you Governor for turning his back on the city and the horrible Mayor we have. As soon as criminals are locked up they are released. I am seeing the 70s and 80 and early 90s returning to the city. A city that was very safe and people wanted to visit. We felt protected and safe as we walked around our city. No more. They ran our city to the ground. Why cant we the people take action? We live here!

    • It’s absolutely true that we should gather together in the name of safety, respect, order and a better environment in which to grow our kids. Specially us, newyorkers, that pay the highest taxes in the nation. we deserve better. and we need to start by STOP voting these delusional democratic that collect their votes in the name of welfare policies that destroy our cities.

      We should SUPPORT our police officers, that especially in NY they do an incredible job in being so patient with so many scumbags around, with salaries that are an insult for the passion and dedication they put in their job.

      This country was born on rules, on respect of the law.

      We need to act, speak up, stop accepting wrong behaviors, stop accepting homeless on our doorsteps that reject shelters or simply to put their lives together and get a job.

      TC should organize a gathering in favor of all these values all of us stand for

  9. I’m dying at these comments. You/we live in one of the safest/wealthiest neighborhoods in all of NYC. This was obviously a planned one-off, probably planned with a store employee, and you’re all acting like it’s Escape From New York Redux. If flippin TRIBECA is too tough for you, maybe it’s time to make that long planned move to Florida or whatever other placid republican law and order enclave that dances in your dreams. Peace. Enjoy your 9PM bedtime.

  10. It’s absolutely true that we should gather together in the name of safety, respect, order and a better environment in which to grow our kids. Specially us, newyorkers, that pay the highest taxes in the nation. we deserve better. and we need to start by STOP voting these delusional democratic that collect their votes in the name of welfare policies that destroy our cities.

    We should SUPPORT our police officers, that especially in NY they do an incredible job in being so patient with so many scumbags around, with salaries that are an insult for the passion and dedication they put in their job.

    This country was born on rules, on respect of the law.

    We need to act, speak up, stop accepting wrong behaviors, stop accepting homeless on our doorsteps that reject shelters or simply to put their lives together and get a job.

    TC should organize a gathering in favor of all these values all of us stand for

  11. Is the same person commenting over and over?

    • No it is not the same person more than once or twice a day. Most people use an alias like yours; but I can see email and IP addresses on my end. Some people change their aliases every time they comment, so it is harder to detect that it is the same person from the reader’s view of the site. Others use an alias but use it consistently, so readers can tell it is the same person. Some people who use aliases provide real email addresses so I can contact them if I have to; some people use completely fabricated emails.

  12. https://nypost.com/2020/09/27/shots-fired-outside-taylor-swifts-tribeca-apartment/

    “The robbery took place at Patron of New York, a sneaker store at 151 Franklin Street shortly after 5 p.m., next door to the Grammy-winning pop star’s $18 million home, with police recovering several shell casings from the scene.”

  13. Why is there no description of the perps?
    Were they ghosts?

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