A Mysterious Store Has Closed

December 30, 2011 Real Estate, Shopping

Hot on the heels of the “for rent” sign appearing in Gallery Viet Nam’s window, another mysterious Tribeca business is closing: A “for sale” sign is in Y.H.K. Department Store’s window, and there are no signs of life inside. (Then again, there often weren’t….) That’s the duty-free-esque shop at 11 Jay; it sold accessories and cosmetics from some very high-end brands (which made it feel like a duty-free shop that had lost its airport). It had been there 27 years.

The broker is positioning it as a maisonette, for residential or commercial (or both). I’d say it seemed likely to go residential—that’s an appealingly quiet block—but then again, Annelore is setting up shop across the street….

P.S. A disclaimer: I’d wager money that Y.H.K. has closed, but because it’s the kind of store that removes wares from its windows nightly, I suppose it could still be open. They were never particularly friendly, so I have no one to ask. Obviously, if it reopens I’ll post an update ASAP.

 
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3 Comments

  1. Lisa
    January 2, 2012 • 8:26 am

    I don’t think you should comment on whether or not they were friendly because you didn’t even know they were there!!!
    Were you still in diapers when they arrived on Jay Street?
    I bought sun screen powder from them occasionally and found them quiet, helpful and professional
    It’s a pity TriBeCa is losing another old timer.
    For the record, their steady clientele was the Asian tourist market. Hope they have retired to a lovely, exotic island!

  2. Erik Torkells
    January 2, 2012 • 8:30 am

    @Lisa: I knew they were there. I went in and chatted with them, and I found them standoffish.

  3. citypixie
    January 2, 2012 • 10:09 am

    This saddens me. I kept meaning to visit this quirky store, it was indeed very mysterious, but it never seemed to be open! However, I also felt like I needed to know the secret knock or an introduction from another patron to enter. I can’t put my finger on it, but there was something about the front of the store wasn’t very inviting.