Art Browns Has Closed

[Silvermink]

I'm surprised that Vancouver's getting on with four stores largely or completely devoted to pens (Perks, Vancouver Pen Shop, Charals, and Pacific Pen Shop) and a smattering of art and stationery stores with a few pens. I hope things stay this way.

 

Is that still going? Now that I live in San Francisco I enjoy Flax Art for its fine pens department, but if that disappeared there would still be an awful lot for artists to buy at Flax. (Informed sources tell me Flax is still selling a lot of FPs.)

 

I bought a Kaweco Sport at Flax when I was in San Francisco last May. I like to support that kind of thing! Chatted with an employee who was familiar with the Pen Posse, too.

[OnePenGuy]

This seems to be a generic web-site for the B & M store. There is no way to order anything on-line, just contact info and directions to the (no longer in existence) store.

Yeah, it could just be a sort of placeholder page if they ever do just become an online shop, but it is a newer domain, with the whois info showing it was registered last month:

Registrant:

Arthur Brown & Bro, Inc

Debbie Silver

2 W 45th St

New York, NY 10036-4212

US

Phone: +1.2125755555

Email: Nichlaus.Hamilton@supermedia.com

 

 

Registrar Name....: Register.com

Registrar Whois...: whois.register.com

Registrar Homepage: www.register.com

 

Domain Name: nycpensandpencilsstationery.com

Created on..............: 2013-07-08

Expires on..............: 2014-07-08

I hadn't checked the whois.register.com site for more info, but anyway, it's a new site, for whatever reason.

[Through the Fog]

Ah, sad to hear. I grew up in Manhattan and I am visiting in a week. I was looking forward to visiting some retail pen shops.

Unfortunately, every time I return to NYC, I feel less of a sense that I'm missing out on something. I've watched too many interesting, unique, and historical locations close up over the years due to rising rents, and chain stores fill all the gaps. As much as people talk about Brooklyn as the new hub of unique culture, it's not much cheaper there, and the abundance of brand new restaurants and hipster fashion boutiques doesn't really fill the void I feel has been left.

[Ecriveur]

The economics of a Montblanc store are totally different from a single, independent store. Economies of scale make a huge difference for everything - negotiating lease prices, benefit from advertising etc., and a Montblanc store serves a marketing function even if the store only breaks even.

[PrintersDevil]

What shame to hear of the Art Brown pen shop closing.

My wife and I visited the shop last December and spoke with Mrs. Brown who was just a lovely person.

Given their location, I can see why maybe rents got pushed out of sight.

I do hope they re-open in the future they were a really good source of supply.

[mejdrich]

I had the pleasure of living in NYC back in '00... with offices located blocks away ... One day, while walking for lunch, I bumped into Art Brown... What a find - Marilyn was (is) a welcoming and wonderful person - she recognized the passion many of us shares and always made each visit a pleasurable experience. On each subsequent trip back to the City, I would try to stop by for ink, paper, really just to visit a shrine to my (our) choice in writing instruments...

 

The confluence of a society where the little items that surround our day to day are disposable, where much communication is effectively delivered in 142 characters or less (non-interactively - not really a word, I know), and we all strive to reach a lowest common denominator (in, oh so many, sad ways) by jettisoning the skill of writing by hand, it is hardly a surprise that this has happened...

 

The surprise, at least to me, is the apparent silence of the manufacturers themselves... Without thinking too much (causes great pain, you know): fountain pens have become an expensive (many) anachronism. The b&m store was, for many, the entry point into the pursuit. Writing with a fountain pen is a tactile experience that triggers a visceral reaction that stays with you forever... I believe MB understood this so much better than many (Parker and Waterman being sold to the manufacture of "tupperware" and sharpies as an example) and, regardless of whether one approves, moved to create a conduit of distribution... For the others to sit idle (in the absence of information to the contrary), simply doesn't make good business sense...

 

Two last thoughts... 1) witness the emergence of the small pen manufacturers who are very close to their end consumer - Edison and Twisbi to name two - these small business are economics theory at work - really cool... 2) My local b&m store, is the last man, so to speak, standing in downtown Chicago (MB boutique and dept. store inventory aside - which engender barely a ripple). When I visit, invariably, the subject of manufacturer/wholesaler indifference always is discussed. It is amazing to me that many of the most venerable manufacturers have almost no presence in the third largest market in the country...

 

Who knows?

 

Good luck Brown family, you are an everlasting part of the NY I knew.

Edited August 7, 2013 by mejdrich

[afern401]

Just heard the distressing news. I only visited Art Brown a handful of times but I always loved going there when in NYC. It was the only B&M I have visited dedicated solely to writing. Can anyone recommend an alternate B&M (similar pricing and inventory) to visit next time I go to New York?

[Florida Blue]

Just heard the distressing news. I only visited Art Brown a handful of times but I always loved going there when in NYC. It was the only B&M I have visited dedicated solely to writing. Can anyone recommend an alternate B&M (similar pricing and inventory) to visit next time I go to New York?

There is Fountain Pen Hospital downtown across from City Hall.

 

(No affiliation, just a happy customer)

[welch]

Just heard the distressing news. I only visited Art Brown a handful of times but I always loved going there when in NYC. It was the only B&M I have visited dedicated solely to writing. Can anyone recommend an alternate B&M (similar pricing and inventory) to visit next time I go to New York?

 

Fountain Pen Hospital in lower Manhattan. The only other pen store in NYC. Opened about 1946; now run by the sons of the original owner.

[afern401]

Thanks Florida and Welch. I was under the impression that FP Hospital was just vintage pens. Glad to be set straight. All things considered, I will still miss AB.

[cdvd]

This is very sad news. I have been going there since I found it when I was in graduate school in New York in the '80's. They were always very nice to me. I hope they are able to reopen in another neighborhood of NYC.

[inkypete]

On my one visit to NY I made sure I visited both FPH and Art Brown. Art's was an excellent store as it had a great range of stationery too, and I had bought from them online a few times from here in Australia. The service at FPH was much better with a very welcoming staff, although reviews had suggested that wasn't the norm. FPH were far more focussed on pens.

 

Can't believe that NY will now only have the FPH as a specialist pen store.

 

Here in Melbourne Australia (population 4 million) we have 6 (maybe 7) and I wonder how they survive at times, especially as none of them discount. I actually buy more online than locally.

 

Vale Art Browns - glad I got to visit and sorry to see you go.

[Vmor86]

I'm glad to announce to all fans of Art Brown that we have reopened a new location under new management at Jewelery Plaza, 20 W 47th St #20R New York, NY 10036. You can reach us At (212)921-1144 or (212)575-8555. You can also visit our website at www.artbrown.com. At Art Brown, we pride ourselves on offering an extensive inventory of the very finest pens and leather goods available. If for some reason there is an item that you are interested in and we do not have it at the present time we will make sure to put our best efforts forth to get it for you. We also provide repairs. At Art Brown we place the needs and satisfaction of our customers above everything else. Dont forget that the holidays are quickly approaching and why not get your loved one a gift here. Come check us out at your earliest convenience, we look forward to assisting you.

Edited November 27, 2017 by Vmor86

[Runnin_Ute]

I'm glad to announce to all fans of Art Brown that we have reopened a new location under new management at Jewelery Plaza, 20 W 47th St #20R New York, NY 10036. You can reach us At (212)921-1144 or (212)575-8555. You can also visit our website at www.artbrown.com. At Art Brown, we pride ourselves on offering an extensive inventory of the very finest pens and leather goods available. If for some reason there is an item that you are interested in and we do not have it at the present time we will make sure to put our best efforts forth to get it for you. We also provide repairs. At Art Brown we place the needs and satisfaction of our customers above everything else. Dont forget that the holidays are quickly approaching and why not get your loved one a gift here. Come check us out at your earliest convenience, we look forward to assisting you.

For those who are in the NYC area this is terrific news - and those who have always wanted to visit.

 

It might be a good idea to post this same information in a new thread as well. Higher likelihood of it being seen by more people.

 

I hope things go well for you at the new location.

[Miles R.]

I'm glad to announce to all fans of Art Brown that we have reopened a new location under new management at Jewelery Plaza, 20 W 47th St #20R New York, NY 10036. You can reach us At (212)921-1144 or (212)575-8555. You can also visit our website at www.artbrown.com. At Art Brown, we pride ourselves on offering an extensive inventory of the very finest pens and leather goods available. If for some reason there is an item that you are interested in and we do not have it at the present time we will make sure to put our best efforts forth to get it for you. We also provide repairs. At Art Brown we place the needs and satisfaction of our customers above everything else. Dont forget that the holidays are quickly approaching and why not get your loved one a gift here. Come check us out at your earliest convenience, we look forward to assisting you.

 

Hurrah! I'll be sure to look in on my next visit to NYC.

Edited November 28, 2017 by Miles R.

[inkstainedruth]

As will I! What are the hours going to be (especially during Christmas week)?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[PS104]

I remember Art Brown when they sponsored the Jon Gnagy Learn to Draw TV show in the early 50s. Then it seemed it was essentially an art supply store.When I was younger than a teenagers my mother took me over there. We bought the all-in-one box Jon Gnagy drawing set. I don't remember when it switched over to the pen store it evolved into. I don't know if I'll ever see NY again but if God is willing I would certainly make a pilgrimage to the new location.

[georges zaslavsky]

That is good to hear

[MHBru]

I heard today that they reopened.

[Jerome Tarshis]

I would not expect Marilyn Brown at her present age to be leading the charge toward reopening Art Brown's. Not single-handedly, But I am curious to know what is the story behind this news. I hope that when the dust clears, some FPNer who has gotten back in touch will find out what happened and let us know.