Place Des Vosges

I pass this store daily and work up the street. In the evenings, I would always stop to check out the window as I’m a fan of old antiques. I’ve always thought «hey maybe I’ll stop by when they’re open and think about what kinds of cool rococo furniture I could put in my jewelry boutique one day.» Well, I was lucky and unlucky that their front doors were open today. As my sister and I passed on our way to our favorite ice cream spot on 10^th Cups and Cones, we saw a young husky who seemed to be sitting listlessly without moving and his nose looked dry– all signs of dehydration our veterinarian brother told us to watch out for. There was a bowl out front and it was empty– the dog had his arms wrapped around the bowl. He was sitting in the open door way and clearly needed water. It’s dusk but it’s 95 degrees today. My sister knew I liked the shop so we thought we’d say hi and ask if we could fill the dog’s bowl with a gallon jug that was sitting on the table. We’re not the types to just fill the water bowl without asking the dog’s family first. Being the friendly people we are, we asked. Out of the shadows of the shop emerged the proprietor, a pale and elderly man. We said hi and asked about the water and to pet the dog– hey we’re all busy but Fido needs access to water ²⁴⁄₇ and I want to come to this shop to look at antiques anyhow so here’s an opportunity to say hi! This guy has incredible amounts of vitriol in his voice when he tells us to F$&?! OFF and mind our own business. At first I was in shock that we stood there dumb struck. We grew up in a small business and our parents took every chance to put a good face forward to everyone– being a small business means so much more than just making money. These people obviously couldn’t care less who works or lives near their shop and are still thinking that it’s okay to be mean in NYC. Then, while we are standing amazed, a small Asian woman came out of the shop after the old man– probably the wife of the elderly man? She told us to F%$^&! off too after asking what was the problem. Wow. How sad is that? We literally stood there for 30 seconds just looking so sad in the face of this anger. I know a lot of kind New Yorkers and work for a couple who have had two store fronts for 20 years– they are the epitome of lively and lovely to all no matter the difficult situations they find themselves in or what sorts of people they interact with. These people at Vosges are the opposite and have a ton of aggression for even perfect strangers. Even after we’d gotten our ice cream and stopped at The Bean for some cold coffee and were sitting on the benches out front, they guy followed us up the street to tell us off some more that «all day long people ask if his dog needs water when the bowl is empty and we should mind our own business.» I told him that dogs need water ²⁴⁄₇ and that it’s normal for people to be concerned over such an innocent creature on a 95 degree day and when he’s too busy it’s normal for someone else to help out. He told me I was crazy. Me?! You followed me up the street! I left your negativity back 15 minutes ago and was enjoying my hazelnut lavender ice cream in peace. I told him I’m going to write an honest review on Unilocal because Union Square is my neighborhood. Why call NYC home and why have a business if you’re going to be this toxic to people? They both had thick accents and when I said that I try to take care of my community and just wanted to say hi the man asked me if I «take care of people in India where you are obviously from.» How racist and unacceptable! I know I’ll never consider buying anything from these owners ever and they’ve made one of my favorite blocks heavy with sadness and distrust. But whatever, brush your shoulders off and pity such morally decrepit people and move on right? But no, this is not NYC circa 1985 and he did follow me up the street and said something racist and just plain mean. They obviously are working hard on this Unilocal profile so here’s an honest review. It’s 2013 and the internet has leveled the playing field. I want to let other New Yorkers who care about the fabric of society see what this place might be about before they decide to stop by and spend their hard earned money with a couple who is clearly unacceptably aggressive and perhaps racist. Also, I clearly saw the elderly man placing his store trash in the city trash receptacle at the corner in front of The Bean. That is clearly against the law for a business to do. Can’t pay a sanitation company to take your trash like other law abiding citizens and business owners? Maybe you should just take your anger some place else and leave NYC to the lovely people who try so hard to make this city welcoming and lovely and lively.