Pearl Paint, the art-supply store that’s been standing on Canal Street for 50 years, closed its doors for good last week. Its iconic red-and-white building was put up for sale (and possible demolishment) two weeks ago.
This morning, several patrons who hadn’t heard the news showed up to buy supplies. One lady, with McDonald’s all over her face wasn’t too happy when someone informed her of the store’s status. “This is some bullshit! Why they shutting it down for!?” she said.
A man with a heavy Brooklyn accent was aware of Pearl Paint shuttering, but was hoping to score some good deals. “I’m just trying to get some markers,” he said. “I heard they closed a few days ago but I still see they are stocked inside the store. They gotta open up to sell supplies at a discount sometime right? I’m trying to get those 40% off deals.”
Another guy, who showed up with a hand truck, was also determined to get some art supply discounts. “I’m here for the sales,” he said. “I’m just coming by to see if they are open, I’ll keep coming back every day.”
From the listing:
The subject property is a 5-story mixed-use elevator block-through building extending from Canal Street to Lispenard Street located between Broadway and Church Street.
With approximately 37 feet of frontage along both Canal and Lispenard Streets, the property features ground floor ceiling heights of 16 feet (approx.) with a 700 SF (approx.) mezzanine, ideal for retail. The below grade SF is 2,370 (approx.).
The building delivers over 2,000 SF of air rights*. Due to the sizable floor plates, phenomenal location for retail (Canal) and residential (Lispenard), the building offers a great opportunity for a developer, investor and/or user.
The space can be delivered vacant.
Several salespeople at Pearl had been there for decades. “It’s devastating,” an employee who wished to remain anonymous told the Tribeca Trib. “They just broke up a whole family unit here. People I’ve been working with for years. Like the people running this place don’t even understand its history and the artists who shopped here?”
(Photo: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)
