Jefferson Market

I read a rumor that Jefferson Market was closing. Jefferson Market is one of those New York places (like Zabars and Lehman Brothers) that has been around forever. You tend to take these places for granted. It's a huge, lofty space that sells bread, cheese and other sundries and take-out foods. New York Magazine called it a European Style grocery.

Jefferson Market was here before that newer gourmet places like that horrid place on Broadway (the name completely escapes me) that changed an entire neighborhood. It was here before Union Market, which is also horrid. Unlike these other, modern stores, there is plenty of space in Jefferson Market to navigate the aisles. Sadly, the store looks abnormally empty compared to the Jefferson Market of my childhood.

When I stopped by, a news crew was interviewing the owner. I was told that the news crews have been showing up all week. When I asked a cashier when they were closing, she hopefully told me that there is a chance that they will not be closing.

I hope not. I hope that if they do manage to stay open, they modernize a little bit but are able to hold onto that old neighborhood feeling. I hope that West Villagers stop taking Jefferson Market for granted.

New York Times article