The former Frenchmen shop on First Avenue (photo by Sabina Mollot)
By Sabina Mollot
Cauz for Pawz thrift shop, which was recently ousted from its space of four years on East 23rd Street in order to make room for a new urgent care center, is moving to the First Avenue storefront formerly occupied by The Frenchmen.
The former air conditioner and electronics shop’s founder, William Koniuk, died late last month. His son, Glenn, still runs the business out of his Williamsburg warehouse, and owns the First Avenue store’s building. It had remained empty for the past three years after his father’s retirement, and was recently renovated, though Glenn recently stressed he wanted to be picky about any future tenant. For one thing, he knew he didn’t want a food-oriented business.
The old Frenchmen space is at 333 First Avenue between 19th and 20th Streets, across from Stuyvesant Town, while the current Cauz for Pawz space, at 212 East 23rd Street between Second and Third Avenues, is going to have its last day of business on August 28. To avoid having to move everything to the new place, there’s now a sale of 25 percent off all pieces of artwork and 50 percent off everything else. A wedding/fundraiser for the store’s mascot pooch, Shorty, has been postponed from September 20 to October 18, Cathryn Duhigg, director of the nonprofit Cauz for Pawz, said.
Cathryn Duhigg, director of Cauz for Pawz at the store (Photo by Sabina Mollot)
She admitted being nervous about transitioning to a much smaller space (one floor versus two) but said the business would adapt by focusing on what sells the most, which are bags, jewelry and clothing for men and women as opposed to houseware items.
“You have to move things much faster, your display changes quicker,” Duhigg said, “but I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
She also called her future landlord “a nice guy ― I can’t believe how nice he is,” and said she suspected his father somehow helped the deal along from beyond. As of Monday, the lease hadn’t been signed, according to Glenn, but he said he wasn’t anticipating any problems.
“She’s moving in her stuff already,” he said of Duhigg.
“I think it’s a better place for us,” said Duhigg. “People in Stuy Town are so happy.”
Lots of changes on that stretch of First Ave., as T&V has been reporting. I thought the new Cauz for Pawz space was potentially the new Ess A Bagel venue. We have a bet going in our house as to when (or whether) the Ess A Bagel folks are going to re-open in the neighborhood. My significant other has concluded it’s not going to open at all. I’m more optimistic, hoping that they aren’t bothering to open while so many folks are on vacation. Any updates?
Ess-A-Bagel’s owners have told us they’ve been actively looking around. No new lease signed yet though.
I am looking forward to visiting this thrift shop when it opens.
Me too !!
What happened to Second Time Around? Is it my imagination that it is gone now?
It’s been gone since the spring. Not sure why but it may have been that it was too close to the STA on Third Avenue in Gramercy.
I know that this store has opened already !! How exciting. Looking forward to seeing how great it does! Firm believer smaller is better..(well in some cases ).