A beautiful story, about a beautiful person, who you end and operates a beautiful store. I have bought many items from Korin over the years from special knives to the small replacement blade for the Benriner Japanese mandolin. Thanks for another uplifting read (pB) — TheBlackSquirrel on Spotlight: Korin

Just wanted to chime in. James - thanks as always for educating us. Josh - I know you and the Rudd group to be straight shooters and experienced landlords. I wish you the best of luck and glad you are making progress. Neighbors - we all have to tell our mayor and city council rep (and Chin seems to have listened and has usually been responsive) that our city's economic revival is key to achieving many of our common goals. City processes need to be fair and streamlined in order for small family businesses to have a chance to thrive - if they are not, then only large corporations will have the money and time to deal with the red tape and be here, and we will no longer have small family businesses that are more tied into and support our communities. — Demetri on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

Wouldn't this tenant have the same issue as Cafe Clementine or did the landlord's meeting with DOB go that well...? — person on Cookies coming to 325 Greenwich

For years Korin has been my go-to for housewarming and birthday gifts for people who love beautiful housewares. They are always gracious and happy to help even though my purchases are generally on the small size. I'm so happy to hear the story behind this wonderful store. — N on Spotlight: Korin

The Loft Legalization process is certainly a challenge, and I wish you well. Entering rent stabilization is a fairer regime for all. Despite the percentage increase in rent, it is still not exactly a financial windfall for the landlord. The code compliance reimbursement is a temporary increase, to be paid back many years after the money was already spent, without regard to inflation or time value of money. From the available documentation of this building, the prior owner took little to no action since the early 1990s to move legalization along. Loft Board penalties and fines were not a motivator. The evidence that he was obstructed by the residential tenants seems sparse. Stores were apparently renovated and rented without permits. I do not know whether I would have come in as a new owner and started work on DOB-filed facade repairs without simultaneously pushing forward on the apartment legalization process, by filing an Alteration Type 1 application to change the C of O and legalize the apartments even without a complete narrative statement. (Then again, I do not know if tenants were complaining about leaks or other habitability issues related to the facade.) Hopefully the narrative statement and any access issues are resolved soon, so you can get done the legalization you seem committed to see through. — James on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

James, I am not hiding behind a computer. I was unaware that you are the new owner. No need to make remarks. Best of luck I am sure it will all work out. — NATIVE on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

This has been a self-fulfilled prophecy for a long time now. Barnes & Noble has been making their stores much less interesting and welcoming for years, so, to no one's surprise, people stopped coming. As much as I mourn this loss, it's a wonder it survived this long. — jmm on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

James I was unaware of that. I am also so happy to hear about your moving forward. Can't wait for all to be resolved for you. Best of luck! — NATIVE on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

McNally Jackson is at the Seaport. — Manhattanmommie on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

NYC is coming out of pandemic (or so we all hope), there are many vacant storefronts and all j. and P. can say are negative comments. Tribeca needs to return to an active business scene: vacant storefronts need to be occupied as they once were. You don't have to eat there if you're not a fan. However, it's ludicrous to complain about more garbage on the street before you've seen it. You live in NYC. — Ben on P.F. Chang’s To Go is coming to Chambers

Such a lovely story! — K on Spotlight: Korin

The Loft Board is not the only agency in NYC with a political bent. That said, OATH exists to hear these issues and resolve them, but a landlord can hire an attorney and an architect to show what is reasonable and what is not, even if certain tenants may certain silly, unreasonable, or arbitrary demands. In this case, the (prior) owner was penalized by the Loft Board for many years for failing to renew the annual IMD registration, some as far back as 1990, in addition to penalties for failure to take even the most basic steps to legalize the residential apartments. (The numerous Loft Board orders are online to be read.) It is hard to believe from this record that the (prior) owner was diligent and the tenants were obstructing progress. — James on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

Yes, there certainly are greedy developers but I don't think we can blame them when bookstores disappear. Books are an expensive item. By cost alone, they can be considered a luxury although real readers consider them as necessary as food and rent. And paperback editions are no more expensive than many movie tickets. Books have survived motion pictures, radio, television, computers. Real readers will always find them. And thoughtful gift givers will always give them to a favorite child for birthdays and holidays. It's up to us to make them a traditional gift in our lives and to make them important in our lives. Buy books and support libraries. Our culture will be poorer without them. Betty Heller (retired book editor) — Betty Heller on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

This is a fantastic article! I always bring my knives to Korin for sharpening but it is so nice to learn the (incredible) story behind the shop. Features like this one help weave the fabric of our terrific little neighborhood community. Thank you so much for this! — Paul on Spotlight: Korin

“Native”, I bought the building 2.5 years ago… and think I’ve already made some good progress with the outside, wait until you see her completed. Unsure of promises you’re referring to but feel free to reach out to me if you have anything further Josh@erudd.com. You should also speak to the owners of Clementine when they do open about whether or not I fought like my life depended on it for them. Also just my opinion, while I don’t mind criticism at all, if you choose to criticize publically those you don’t know about situations you don’t know anything about, you should at least have the fortitude to use your full real name. We’re all adults on here trying to make this neighborhood better (I live in 325 Greenwich), and there’s a name for keyboard warriors who hide behind fake usernames and make disparaging remarks anonymously… (Hint: they’re green and live under bridges, and they’re usually teenagers) — Josh Greenberg on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

This sucks. Even when I lived in Hell's Kitchen, I used to take a walk down to this B&N. No matter who owns a bookstore, any that disappear is a lost. — Dellin Betansaze on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

same! incredible story — EM on Spotlight: Korin

James, Great contribution, someone clearly understand this subject! Firstly, Happy to announce I’ve reached terms with the Loft Board on a dramatically reduced requirements to issue Clementine’s permits and we should be moving full steam ahead. This is due in large part to the assistance of Councilwoman Margaret Chin’s office as well as Tribeca Citizen. Just couple notes: You are correct about the legalization process, I’m a well versed landlord and never had any confusion that this building would have to be legalized. As you know however that is typically a 20,30+ year process in most cases, and what I could not see in my crystal ball was COVID, and so with my property sitting empty with no income (very few IMD tenants actually pay rent) well I can’t even pay the real estate taxes (which cover 30+% of city revenue) let alone make any dent in legalization. My biggest issue here was timing. Was coming out of the pandemic the time to draw the line in the sand and keep businesses from reopening, all over a small portion of a 30+ year process in a building that’s been in same condition for 40 years? This city needs the economy back pumping ASAP or it’s headed back to its state in the 80’s, and again, the vast majority of NYC funding comes real estate taxes. I’m sure you’re also aware of the legalization catch 22 and why Loft Board does have a very tough job I admit. You mentioned the landlords, however almost always, the remaining IMD loft tenants DO NOT WANT the building legalized because once legalized their rents jump pretty substantially to Rent Stabilized rents via a calculation that includes the costs the landlord had to put into legalization. If you want to go and look thru loft board records (you can pull any records on any building you’d like at their office if you make appt), you’ll see instance after instance of landlords fighting for access to loft units with their architects to update and move legalization along and refusal by tenants. Again I don’t even blame them, the process is set up to incentivize them to fight the process itself. Just stating the fact it’s a two way street, neither side really wants it done so there has to be a better path here than just withholding permits once in a blue moon when they feel like it (remember they issued mine no problem in 2019). Permits are the proper legal process, if they continue this all they’ll do is either encourage LL’s to do work without permits which is dangerous and/or they’ll continue to hold up business from opening and landlords from improving their properties. James if you’d ever like to discuss please shoot me an email sounds like you’ve got some great knowledge me and others in my industry can use to help the neighborhood, Josh@erudd.com. Be well — Josh Greenberg on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

I love this story so much - thank you. I will surely check out this store — Brian on Spotlight: Korin

Oh no I’ve been dreading this day… what is happening to this neighborhood. — J on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

Oh no! I just got fabulous books there for my son in law who loves wine ( Corks for Dorks) and some classic children’s books for a baby shower both of which I wouldn’t have found without the help of their super staff. Are we to lose every local amenity we have down here? Must we buy everything on line? I refuse!! — Jean Grillo on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

The explanation is quite simple. Having been one of the very few buildings to successfully survive the Loft Board system and get a C of O, I can tell you first hand that the Loft Board's sole and primary purpose is to prevent any and all progress on any IMD. This allows the tenants in place to continue to pay the same rents they were paying in the 1970's, which is the only political consideration. I don't know the details of this case, but I'll bet the Loft Board has simply rubber stamped every single objection the tenants have put up over the past 40 years, while putting the landlord through an onerous and costly paperwork hell. — R Berger on The saga behind 325 Greenwich

I’m not sure that there’s anything to protest… Barnes & Noble is a for-profit company. If they have decided not to renew their lease, there is little anyone can do about it. I love the store - it’s my go-to for birthday presents as well as books - and always appreciated a warm, friendly place to take my children on a cold day when they were small. I also appreciate that being a gathering place for people with small children to pass a few hours doesn’t necessarily translate into profits. — B&N Shopper on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

Wow, closet racist. It is not the immigrants but rather capitalism on steroids originating from a few blocks down. — Desbrosses on Barnes & Noble space is up for grabs

I know at least one apartment is still occupied, as I know the tenant. They offered many different incentives to buy her out, but she chose to stay. — Jen on The saga behind 325 Greenwich