Overlooked Manhattan: Amish Market and Other Closed Stores

While Trump’s statement that New York is a ghost town is a gross understatement, there are quite a few businesses that have kept their doors closed for the time being.

Along with the surprising closing of a Starbucks, many independent businesses have shut down, including a number of bars and restaurants, the iconic Century 21 store and Amish Market on Park Row.

But let’s be clear, Chicken Little, New York City isn’t close to being dead. As good as that might be for clickbait, it’s bilge water, as my father used to say. Just try to remember that a pandemic is a pandemic, which means that we have to respect the medical authorities, and that there is always something else coming around the corner.

Five Guys is apparently coming soon. I can hardly wait.

In the meantime, it’s time to treasure that Escape from New York feeling. No doubt we will be sentimental about it in the years to come.

Manhattan Retreat

Downtown Manhattan is a noisy neighbourhood, making it hard finding a place to think. For example, while there is a park around the corner….

John Street Methodist Church Park

John Street Methodist Church Park

It is claustrophobic, more akin to a prison yard than a park. City Hall Park offers a beautiful fountain, festively decorated during the winter, for contemplation… IMAG2156But the traffic, on Park Row and Broadway, is a never-ending story. IMAG2174The East River Esplanade looks like it might have moments of quiet…

East River Esplande

If not for the fact that the traffic on FDR Drive Overpass is worse.

FDR Drive above South Street and East River Esplanade

The World Trade Memorial has potential as a place of solace…

World Trade Memorial

Once the security checkpoints are gone and the construction is complete.

World Trade One has completion date of 2014

World Trade One projected completion date: 2014

Until then, I will have to accept that the only time silence comes anywhere around here is when a hurricane comes to town. IMAG0027But then the power is gone too…unless I get a generator. And there’s no quiet in that.