Mb Boutique In New York

[Cigar Man]

Hi Forum members - my first post!

 

I'm visiting New York City over Easter and want to visit the best MB Boutique / pen shop whilst there - any recommendations?

 

I'm the proud owner of a MB 'Tribute to MB' FP and RB - beautiful and stylish - and create a ripple around meeting rooms when I pull the pen from my pocket. Also, just took delivery of the Meisterstuck blotter (not something I've seen refrred to on this forum - why is that?).

 

I look forward to your responses!

Cigar Man, Bristol, UK

[Shaporama]

Hi Forum members - my first post!

 

I'm visiting New York City over Easter and want to visit the best MB Boutique / pen shop whilst there - any recommendations?

 

I'm the proud owner of a MB 'Tribute to MB' FP and RB - beautiful and stylish - and create a ripple around meeting rooms when I pull the pen from my pocket. Also, just took delivery of the Meisterstuck blotter (not something I've seen refrred to on this forum - why is that?).

 

I look forward to your responses!

Cigar Man, Bristol, UK

Two choices: Fountain Pen Hospital in lower Manhattan and Art Brown International Pen Shop in Midtown.

[peterb]

Art Brown does not deal with Montblanc, except possibly refills. They even boast of not selling Montblanc pens. More likely, this store is not up to Montblanc standards. Fountain Pen Hospital downtown on Warren much better stocked, even with ink. The actual Montblanc boutique is quite helpful. Another source is Joon on Lexington in the low 60s. (They recently shut down their shop in Grand Central.)

[Ghost Plane]

Noooooooooooo! That Grand Central shop was always a pleasure of attending conferences in the hotel above.

 

FPH always has the best prices.

[Postscript]

Art Brown does not deal with Montblanc, except possibly refills. They even boast of not selling Montblanc pens. More likely, this store is not up to Montblanc standards. Fountain Pen Hospital downtown on Warren much better stocked, even with ink. The actual Montblanc boutique is quite helpful. Another source is Joon on Lexington in the low 60s. (They recently shut down their shop in Grand Central.)

Not up to MB standards? Seriously? I visited the MB Boutique in NYC and was ignored. Also the MB acolytes here excoriated me for posting about this earlier but it did happen. What standards?

 

Art Brown has been a bastion of pen stores in NYC IMHO. As has Joon. Just a few thoughts as an MB owner thanks,

 

Post Script

[peterb]

Either way, it is currently impossible to buy a montblanc pen at Art Brown; whatever the actual reason, they do not carry any.

 

The Montbanc boutique on Madison and 57th may project an imposing atmosphere, but I find them courteous and helpful. They even gave me a sample cartridge cleaning syringe gratis. They sometimes get busy, so you must be patient.

 

Art Brown is still useful, but it has slipped several notches from its 46th Street days. Still has occasional bargains on mid-tier goods. But lack of Montblanc pens speaks volumes. Good source for pencils, stationery, ballpoints, rhodia.

 

Lees Art Shop on 57th also has limited selection of fountain pens, faber castell e.g.

Edited March 6, 2012 by peterb

[meestahbig]

dude... go to the boutique in midtown 57th and Madison... you will see many many spectacular pieces. I was just there today and got some Hitchcock red ink.

[meiers]

Go to Fountain Pen Hospital. I will be in New York this July. FPH will be one of my destination points.

[Dylan]

I have been to FPH and there selection is fantastic. I am hoping to be in NY later this year and if so I will definitely be heading to FPH!!!

[Barry Gabay]

Fountain Pen Hospital, Art Brown, and Joon's are all excellent retailers of fountain pens in NYC. If one is searching strictly for MB products, then Art Brown will not be of interest. One should not casually dismiss this store however. Now in its third generation as a family business, as is FPH, it recently moved to a newer & larger location just a block away from the old address. Art Brown, in fact, has a larger selection and variety of some high-end European manufacturers and models than any of the other NYC stores. The fact that it no longer carries MB products is a much longer story than can or should be discussed by those of us who are not privy to business decisions, whether made by manufacturers, retailers, or mutually.

 

Each of the NYC pen shops has its virtues: "The Back Room" & thorough service & the guys at FPH; the selection, room to spread out & customer service at Brown's; friendly service & the great discounts in the very back display cases at Joon's. Each store is staffed with folks who have been in the business for generations and have forgotten more than most of us will ever know about pens. I am a very happy repeat customer of each of these stores.

 

Additionally, I have had occasion to visit the stores and write about the NYC pen scene for Pen World. Something I learned when researching the stores and from meeting the principals at pen shows over the years, is that all like and respect one another very much. There is genuine and mutual affection among all of the NYC pen retailers. In fact, Steve Weiderlight of FPH tells the joke that when Marilyn Brown retires from her family business, he wants to hire her. Marilyn laughed and offered Steve the same opportunity.

 

It's a big island: Upper East side for Joon, Mid-town for Art Brown, City Hall-Financial District for Fountain Pen Hospital.

 

Have a fun trip, Cigar Man. Don't miss Nat Sherman's, just north of the Lions.

Edited March 9, 2012 by Barry Gabay

[PenTieRun]

I've had only one experience in the 57th and Madison Ave. store. I was ignored by most of the salespersons, but another was courteous; they were not busy at the time. However, my experiences at boutiques around the country (Troy, King of Prussia, Scottsdale) has always been very pleasant--sometimes I was fawned over. Perhaps the NYC store was having a rough day during my trip. They have many of the 888 range of LEs on display, so it's certainly worth the trip!

[Postscript]

The same happened to me there as well. Perhaps it was just an anomaly.

 

Post Script

[peterb]

I stopped in today again to get my hitchcock ink. I think she found the last bottle. As always very helpful. The latout of the store is not really conducive to unescorted browsing, and naturally they show off their most expensive pens and special editions at the expense of the more workingman pens and pen accessories.

 

The secret is to go in, make an immediate left to the counter at the front left-hand side of the shop. This is where the helpful pen and ink experts reside, next to their vault of what we pen users crave. The bulk of the store is dedicated to leather, watches, and exorbitant gems. Likely the sales people on that side know/care less about the relatively common pens. It is not really the sort of shop where they let you play with things until you actually appear committed or serious, rather than a looky-loo or browser.

 

The threshold is lower at the other shops, which are more down-to-earth, art brown especially so. Of course, at the MB boutique, you can only compare one MB to another MB, because it's exclusive. But if you have a purpose other than browsing, they will quickly and courteously address it in a cheerful, professional manner. Even once when I was far too casually dressed for such an environment. Still, this is no Apple Store where the hoi polloi can just storm in and freely play around with all the toys, even the macbook pros. Think of it more as a Mercedes dealership and act accordingly.

[Cigar Man]

Thanks everyone for this help and support - I'll see how many I can get round (though I think FPH is not open at weekends).

 

anyone else use a blotter?

[Cigar Man]

Well I'm back from New York (what a great city - exciting, visitors from everywhere, amazing sights, amazing buildings). I did manage a visit to the Madison Avenue MB store - and will never go back - what an attitude - the staff were only interested in each other, and ignored me the whole time. As a frequent purchaser of MB pens, cuff links, leather goods I am surprised that MB allow this standard to continue. I've never met anything like this in the MB world, or even in NYC!

My next visit will include the FPH and Art Browns.

[hollyuk]

I've not been to the NYC dealership, but have been to the Bond Street store in London - and the staff could not have been more helpful. I only bought ink in the end, but was made to feel a valued customer. The concierge even insisted on carrying my overnight case into and out of the store (they have a rather large step into the store). I had similar treatment at the MB concession in Harrods.

 

It's such a shame when staff ignore customers in a store - I sometimes think shop workers can be more snobbish than the customers!

[Blade Runner]

That stinks Cigar man. If I travelled all that way and got that treatment, I'd make darn sure I got service, but that's just me. In NYC people, myself included, tend to be a outspoken, sometimes with good reason. Haven't been to that one in a while, but my recent visits to other boutiques have been super - the asst. mgr. playing with my daughter so I could test pens in peace, offers of drinks, exchanges without question, etc.

[Postscript]

Going to London on business next week. I'll try the Bond Street Boutique; hope it is better than Madison Avenue thanks,

 

Post Script

[Garageboy]

Let's see how the guys up there will treat me (mid 20s, jeans, t shirt, button shirt over that, bike messenger bag) when I bring in a MB 144 Gold Plate to have the section replaced...

I sorta dread it, but I'm looking forward to it

[KJY]

Kind of mystery shopper!

So you can apply for a job at MB.