Iconic Bowery Store Closes After More Than 25 Years

Billy’s Antiques, the offbeat shop located under the big tent on the corner of Bowery and Houston is having a final goodbye party this weekend.

Billy's, formerly Lot 76, has been selling antiques and other memorable items at that spot since 1986. But, as much as he likes making deals, he’s decided to call it a day.

The landlord that owns the lot where Billy’s Antiques stands is planning on building a 2-story retail building. Leroy said he’s open to coming back and renting some space there.

But the unofficial mayor of the Bowery isn’t closing up shop without a sendoff: bands on Friday and a funeral — complete with a procession — for the store on Saturday.

WNYC’s Kathleen Horan had an exit interview with Leroy about his decision to close the store and how the area has changed.

What’s your mood as you prepare to say your goodbye?

This is the final goodbye to the old Bowery. It’s the last of a 150-year-old tradition of resellers on the Bowery and we were the last ones here so this is a real send off as well as a symbolic one.

What are your thoughts on how the neighborhood has changed?

All that’s left will be these trendy expensive stores…it used to be you could go down to the Bowery and get a good deal on clothing and used stuff. It was slightly dangerous and edgy. Now there are more entitled rich people.

Who were your clientele?

Everyone under the sun, from Catherine Deneuve and Jimmy Page to a Bowery bum that just needed a pair of shoes

I feel very nostalgic about this place. I’m amazed about the reaction from New Yorkers, they really don’t want this please to leave. They tell me they feel like it’s become this giant mall town, I get that all the time, and we were the last bastion of old New York.

What’s your definition of old New York?

Where every shop is unique, there’s no chain stores everything is individual. At one time, every shop had its own unique quality, depending on the owner so you really got the feeling when you came down to the Bowery that you didn’t know what to expect when you walked into a shop—you didn’t know if you were going to be treated nicely, if there was going to be a good deal.

Now it’s too predictable.

The best way to get an idea of old New York is to watch film noir movies from the ‘30’s and ‘40’s. Everyone has a chip on their shoulder, they have an attitude, and each New Yorker was an individual and a star.

How’d you get involved with this place?

It was called Lot 76 and the original owner was Rob Fennick and he was a forward thinking antique dealer from Detroit.  He decided to come downtown and create this cool place in 1986. He just rocked it. It was a crazy place. I knew him from the flea market. In 1998, he hired me as a salesman/manager and we made deals and it was so much fun.

Then Rob got sick and he gave up the store—one day I was the manager, next day I was the owner

How would you describe the spirit of your shop?

I like things a little on the dark side—you know skulls and skeletons but I also like color. Paintings and sculpture. I mean anything of beauty. Also old stuff, I love it if it's old and well made. But I really got turned on to street art. All the greats came through here. Bowery and Houston was the apex of the world. I always talk about the ghosts of the old bowery… The store has its own life. We’re honoring the store and it’s really a goodbye to the old Bowery.

What will you miss and what wont you miss?

I will miss all the people that I met, and the thing I’m not going to miss is having no electric or heat. This tent in January is really rough and in the heat of August it’s punishing.

Any final words as the unofficial mayor of the Bowery?

I want to thank any New Yorker who ever came in here and bought something, but not the tire-kickers or non-buyers. New York is a constantly changing city and the old Bowery will never come back so I’m not bitter. We just have to move on.