Gem Spa
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1920s |
| Defunct | 2020-05-07 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Newsstand items, candy, egg cream beverages |
Gem Spa Overview
Gem Spa operated as a combined newsstand and candy shop situated at the intersection of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue within Manhattan's East Village district in New York City.[1][2] Originally established under a different name during the 1920s, it adopted the name Gem Spa in 1957.[3] The establishment operated around the clock and gained a reputation for serving arguably the finest traditional New York City–style egg cream, proudly advertised on its awning as "New York's Best."[4][5][6][7]
Frequently described as a bodega,[8][9] Gem Spa served as a popular meeting spot for beat communities throughout the 1950s, evolving into a favored location for hippie culture during the 1960s.[10] The store was also recognized for its broad assortment of underground newspapers.[11][12] In 2001, New York Magazine honored it as the premier newsstand within the East Village.[13]
On May 7, 2020, Parul Patel, the proprietor at that time, declared that Gem Spa’s storefront would remain permanently closed due to financial pressures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and rising rental costs. This decision followed community-driven initiatives and social media campaigns aimed at preserving the establishment.[14][15][2]
The building housing Gem Spa, located at 131 Second Avenue or alternatively addressed as 36 St. Marks Place, was constructed between 1898 and 1900. Designed by architect Louis F. Heinecke, it exemplifies the Renaissance Revival style. This structure is part of the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District, which was officially designated in October 2012.[5]
History
In 1922, the location operated as a branch of the Chain Shirt Shop, and by the 1950s, it had become known as "Gem's Spa." Sociologist Daniel Bell asserted during the 1970s that his uncle Hymie invented the egg cream, and noted that another individual named Hymie owned a candy store serving egg creams at the same site in the 1920s. According to reports from the Village Voice in the 1970s, patrons recalled visiting the establishment even before World War I. The Goldfeder family maintained ownership of the store for three decades until 1957.
From 1957 through at least 1969, Ruby Silverstein and Harold Shepard owned the store, employing eleven staff members to operate it around the clock. Silverstein estimated that someone entered the store every thirty seconds. Initially, customers primarily purchased Jewish and foreign-language newspapers; however, beginning around 1963, sales shifted toward publications like the Village Voice and various underground magazines. Silverstein and Shepard coined its current name, originally Gem's Spa—derived from Gladys, Etta, and Miriam, who were Silverstein’s and Shepard’s wives along with Shepard’s former spouse.
In 1966, The Village Voice dubbed it the "official oasis of the East Village"; it had also gained recognition as a popular spot for hippies. The activist Abbie Hoffman organized participants for his 1967 demonstration at the New York Stock Exchange at Gem Spa. Poet Allen Ginsberg described it as a "nerve center" of New York City, while the Art Workers' Coalition maintained their offices above the establishment. Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe famously purchased an egg cream there for Patti Smith shortly after her arrival in New York City in 1967. By the late 1960s, Gem Spa was situated between two renowned venues: the Fillmore East and the Electric Circus.
In 1971, ownership had passed to Irving Stein. That year, Village Voice reported that a persistent group of addicts using its entrance and newspaper benches as their base negatively impacted business. Financial difficulties forced a temporary closure starting in February 1972, coinciding with a decline in countercultural support. In May of that year, a fire damaged the storefront; nevertheless, it reopened under new management by June.
By 2015, Ray Patel owned Gem Spa. Born in Gujarat, India during the early 1940s, Patel managed the store alongside his wife after acquiring it in 1986. Upon purchase, he replaced one brick wall with glass but did not engage in advertising efforts, relying solely on word-of-mouth promotion. Patel learned to prepare egg creams from an Italian predecessor who had inherited the recipe from a Jewish owner before him. In 2010, store manager Salim revealed that only four individuals possessed knowledge of the recipe. Due to his battle with Parkinson's disease, Patel’s daughter Parul—formerly a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley—assumed control of operations in 2018.
In 2019, Gem Spa launched branded merchandise for the first time; its T-shirt quickly gained popularity. Eater magazine described it as the "Hottest Look in Streetwear" shortly after Fashion Week concluded in September 2019. The apparel attracted attention from fashion influencers including former Calvin Klein model Remy Holwick and designer Kyle Brincefield of Studmuffin NYC. Despite ongoing efforts to preserve it, Gem Spa permanently closed its doors in May 2020 due to diminished business caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Following closure, Gem Spa announced plans to continue operations via an online store offering branded products.
In popular culture
The back cover of the debut album by the influential punk rock band the New York Dolls showcases Gem Spa.[12][16] Both poets Allen Ginsberg and Ted Berrigan referenced this establishment in their literary creations.[17] One of Jean-Michel Basquiat's prominent paintings from 1982 is titled Gem Spa.[18]
References
- ↑ Allen, Irving Lewis (1995). "New Ways of Urban Living". The City in Slang: New York Life and Popular Speech. Oxford University Press. p. 101. ISBN 0195357760.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedEater-2020-05-07 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedanatomy - ↑ "Top 10 rock'n'roll landmarks in the US". The Guardian. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Brazee, Christopher D., et al. "East Village/Lower East Side Historic District Designation Report" New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (October 9, 2012)
- ↑ "Gem Spa's Awning Doesn't Lie, They Really Do Have New York's Best Egg Cream". NYC Food Guy. 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ↑ Lauckner, Sally (19 October 2010). "A Literary Tour of the East Village". The Local. The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University, and The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ↑ Swanson, David (2020-05-11). "Gem Spa closes: Bye Bye, Miss American Egg Cream". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
- ↑ Conti, Allie (2019-08-29). "Can Instagram and Egg Creams Save the Last Punk Rock Bodega?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedvalentine - ↑ Romm, Ethel (14 October 1968). "Blueprint for Revolution". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Tanqueray Rock-n-Roll Trivia Map". New York Magazine. 12 October 1992. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ↑ "Best of New York: Best Newsstands". New York Magazine. 2001. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ↑ "Gem Spa will not reopen". EV Grieve. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ↑ Carlson, Jen (May 7, 2020) "East Village's Iconic Gem Spa Has Permanently Closed" Gothamist
- ↑ Carlson, Jen (20 April 2006). "NYC Album Art: New York Dolls". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009.
- ↑ Morgan, Bill (1997). The beat generation in New York: a walking tour of Jack Kerouac's city. City Lights Books. p. 100. ISBN 0-87286-325-5.
- ↑ "Gem Spa - BASQUIAT Jean-Michel - Art Actuel". Art Actuel. Archived from the original on 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
External links
Template:East Village, Manhattan 40°43′43″N 73°59′16.5″W / 40.72861°N 73.987917°W