lifshitz Gallery

I eat lunch everyday at Le Pain Quotidien which is directly across from the Lifshitz Art Gallery. Today I came in to ask if they repair watches. I also wanted to see two watches, one from the window, and one inside. I asked if I could see the one in the window, he said «I’d rather just tell you the price». I took him outside and pointed to him the one I wanted. The watch I wanted was $ 750, he kept showing me other watches as if I could not afford it. I asked to try on the one I wanted, the $ 750 one. He said «well … that’s expensive» and I said, «it isn’t that expensive» … Before he went to get the watch in the window I saw another watch that I also wanted to see. He said he’ll only show me one. There is no reason to treat customers so rudely. He has no idea how much money I have. It’s a shame that the service is so awful I will never set foot there again. After he was so unwilling to treat me with any sort of respect I left, without trying anything on. It’s not like this store is super busy, they were all just sitting around when I came in, it’s really despicable the way they handle customers. Save yourself the unpleasant moment and go to one of the many other thrift shops in NYC. I’m also writing the better business bureau.

Such a cool tiny place. Mr. Lifshitz is there al the time. Browse to your hearts content. So much to see, so little time.

T.N. is right, this IS a «tiny hole, «a junk shop. The neighborhood has several good thrift shops on 3^rd in the 80’s, plenty of real antique shops.
«Lifshitz» is an unpleasant old cuss who sits in a dirty chair on the sidewalk surrounded by his trashy chairs and lamps, glowering at the world. If someone does want to buy garbage, he’ll hobble inside and haggle out a price.
Yes, I saw a bird screeching in a tiny cage. Even on warm days, it’s cruel to keep a tropical bird on the street. Too often he does it when the temperature is 60 or 70 and a drafty wind blows. Penning one up In a tiny cage? Beyond disgusting. This guy is Sanford without the Son, without the humor, without a shred of humanity.
You might find a second hand vacuum cleaner inside the shop. The dirt bag is the one sitting in the chair in front of it.

I guess this falls under antiques, but it’s just a tiny hole in the wall packed floor to ceiling with S-​H-​I-​T. Primarily things like lighting fixtures and brass objects… and the occasional parakeet squawking in a vintage cage — no shit! It’s a really weird place. So… if you are in the need of something that is severely outdated or not available in Home Depot or Bed Bath and Beyond maybe you can find it here. Doubt it, but maybe.