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They have been on Franklin for a while now providing low cost goods
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There are 2 of them if youre referring to the ones near eastern pkwy. Apparently they serve a purpose if they've been there a while. Maybe less so now than before. Ive gone in a few times for simple basics I suddenly needed. The one on the west side is fine, and they guy who's always there (the owner) is nice. Only complaint about these sorts of stores in general is all the stuff they drag out to the sidewalks. Its just ugly.
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Do u find them a eye sore ?
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Mazon's is useful to have around, for sure.
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Wow Eastbloc I'm surprised by your comment
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Why's that? They have a very good, diverse inventory of household products.
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Eastbloc Im just a little surprised I thought u would want a little more of a ritzy operation there
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I suspect you have me all wrong, chloeroyale.
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any business that throws all its wares out on the sidewalk is an eyesore, and for me at least, keeps me away. keep it inside, have some nice clean signage, and that might lure me in out of curiosity. but crap handwritten signs for toilet paper rolls and tinfoil pans doesnt.
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I don't think Mazon's does a lot of luring. I go there when I need something specific and miscellaneous -- rope, balloons, batteries, hardware, umbrellas, etc.
I suspect the sidewalk thing is more about space constraints.
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I agree with you, goldemi. Both the 99-cent stores on Franklin between Lincoln & St. John's are horrible eyesores with all their crap all over the sidewalk. The one on the east side of Franklin is a MESS inside, too--the floors are ripped up and uneven, there's crap piled everywhere, things are covered in dust and their speakers are blown out so the music thumps and crackles. Ugh.
eastbloc, I have to disagree with you. I believe Mazon DOES try to lure people in. Why else would they blast music so loudly that you can hear it all along the block? The store is relatively clean, but I have thought many times about asking them to turn the music down. No need for me to hear it in my damn apartment!
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Interesting comments they will be probably be gone soon
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With the 99 cent store model you almost have to put items on the street. The stores survive on turnover of items. You need to get people in and items moving, especially for things that have a limited shelf life. You don't want to have shirts in inventory for two years, or toothpaste that sits on the shelves for ten months. If this were the suburbs, these stores could have double or even triple the floor space for the same $s, but on Franklin Ave, you simply stock everything to the ceiling and try and get as many eyes on your merchandise as possible.
The owners put items that are often needed on a last minute basis (tinfoil pans, toilet paper, t-shirts, mops,etc) and those that are bulky or unweildly (bikes, shopping carts, luggage) outside to encourage people to make impulse buys or to remind people that such items are available in the store. You might not think about buying your kid his/her first bike from a 99 cent store, but every time your kids walks by they are going to point and go "Look, bikes!"
I agree that some of the local stores are not kept up really well, but there are others that spend a good deal of time trying to keep merchandise dusted and clean to keep people coming back.
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I agree that they can be an eyesore. I'm also not sure how much of the sidewalk they can legally take up with their wares. However I'm not opposed to the 99¢ store model. I just wish they did it in a more sightly manner. Suffers with this as well.
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love Mazon's. great in a pinch and been here forever-- was glad to have them in the old location, though more glad to see that hellhole of a building gone. are they still on nostrand as well?
the one across the st. and the one across EP, next to the Golden Krust, are godawful.
Also a fan of the "variety" store on the east side of franklin-- cheap phone chargers and sunglasses, and all the Nigerian movies you could ask for.
as nice as it is to have places to go eat on franklin that are more than steam-table joints-- which is all there was until Saje came and went-- I've got no interest in living on smith st. The dollar stores are a sign that western CH is still a mix of people-- this is an important part of this neighborhood.
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Interesting all the love for Mazons -- I am 100% into the Bengali 99c store. I have never entered the store with a need and not left with that item in hand. Nice people, always helpful.
From my shower leaking and needing plumbers tape to needing a plastic jackolantern in May to Tupperware, paper products, and more. They always have what I need.
I like both stores. I find it funny that people see them an eyesore. There are few neighborhoods in NYC without them. And they are useful beyond belief. -
There's a nice 99 cent store up on Fulton and Franklin, too.
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They're great. They sell tons of stuff that I need without having to go to Target.
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I love 99 cent stores!
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I really like them. I've never been in Mazon's because I hit up the Bengali store first, and like xlizellx says, they always have what I need and they're so friendly. I don't see them as an eyesore, even when they spill out a bit.
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There are none in PS/w-PH so Amazon is my 99cent store.
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A few days ago, I looked at Mazon and realized it was one of the few one story buildings on Franklin, near EP.
If development continues at the present rate, I expect it to be torn down and replaced with a taller building.
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
Oh we'll that does not surprise me I know 99 cents stores on Franklin ave days are numbered
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I would not worry about being able to obtain similar merchandise locally yet.
If my memory is right, there is a small 99 Cent store on Washington near Dean, and another on Classon near Dean.
Nostrand still has lots of them.
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
Ditto to Mazon being great - I stop in there for any random small need, but if Mazon doesn't have it I'll cross the street and try the Bengali place. I really don't get people who say that a store putting wares out on the street is an "eyesore" - it's just making the most use out of the space they have. For all those posters, I'd suggest you stop in and check the store out for yourself before you judge.
Chloeroyale, I'm curious what your thoughts are - you seem pessimistic about how long these stores will be around, but you haven't really shared your opinion.
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She is baiting to see if folks here are outraged by them to feed her anti-gentrifier bias
I think the businesses serve a purpose and its silly for people to get up in arms about them. At the same time though I think its silly for people to be angry about the natural ebbs and flows of NYC neighborhoods. No neighborhood with low owner occupancy & the proximity to Manhattan that PH/CH have will remain stable for long. In 20 years the folks here now might be getting displaced again.
[Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK
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"Getting displaced" makes it sound like we will all be victims of some invading hoard of rich people.
The opposite could also take place:
We could see the neighborhood go into an economic decline, and decide to pack up our things and leave.As much as I like it currently, I would not hesitate to leave this neighborhood if it began to change into a place I didn't like, and I saw the change as certainty.
I'll live here as long as it is my best option, and no longer.
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
"I'll live here as long as it is my best option, and no longer."
Whynot nails his true colors to the mast. -
Cool The Kid said:
She is baiting to see if folks here are outraged by them to feed her anti-gentrifier bias
(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”) -
commonsense said:
"I'll live here as long as it is my best option, and no longer."
Whynot nails his true colors to the mast.Are the colors shared?
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
I'm inclined to think that Franklin Ave. will not return to its previous state anytime soon. We've seen one of the worst economic periods in several generations, yet the area has only grown fancier and more expensive.
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I guess commonsense found the sensibility of that statement too uncommonly sensible for his/her sensibilities.
To break it down for the children - why would anyone live someplace if there was someplace else that suited their pocketbook, or fancy better?
Hey Why Not, is that a white gentrifier statement or does that apply to practically everyone on the planet?
what are the colors that you are nailing to the mast? if they are pretty colors I'll share 'em.
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Jack-
I agree.I think enough people have put money into renovating and buying the surrounding brownstones (as well as buying condos), that the neighborhood will be resistant to all but the largest economic shocks.
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
another, unexpected plus-- Mazon's outside radio, while staticky, now seems to be tuned to an all-80's, all the time station. I like knowing i can get my Tears for Fears fix just by walking across the parkway.
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tsarina said:
I guess commonsense found the sensibility of that statement too uncommonly sensible for his/her sensibilities.To break it down for the children - why would anyone live someplace if there was someplace else that suited their pocketbook, or fancy better?
Hey Why Not, is that a white gentrifier statement or does that apply to practically everyone on the planet?
what are the colors that you are nailing to the mast? if they are pretty colors I'll share 'em.
Tsarina-
They are pretty colors. Here's a photo of them, together with a similar quote:
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
TeReKeTe, that's hilarious. I wonder if Flock of Seagulls haircuts will be next.
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If they play Oingo Boingo, I am soooo dancing in the street.
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
perhaps it's time to start making requests at mazon's?
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I soooo hope some hipster requests this song in response to the bike corral debate:
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor. -
whynot_31 said:
If they play Oingo Boingo, I am soooo dancing in the street.Whynot, I LOVE that you're a Boingo fan! Perhaps we were at some of the same shows in the '80s?
P.S. This past Sunday, it was nothing but Z100 or other such crap coming from Mazon. Very disappointing.
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I wonder how low the children to adult ratio can go before the police close down a street permit issued under Play Streets.
http://transalt.org/campaigns/pedestrian/playstreets
This summer, we could use our political contacts, the local dollar store and excellent taste in music for the betterment of all!
For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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