Back in the day, people of all ages were drawn to stationery stores to acquire items which, for the most part, could only be found at one. Ken Marion, who grew up across the street from Levy Brothers on Broadway between 83rd and 84th Streets, wrote about his personal connection with this business on his blog Leaving West 83rd Street.
Unlike earlier stationers which focused almost entirely on paper supplies, pens and pencils, stationery stores began to evolved in the 1950s to include many other items. Marion describes Levy Brothers as “an all purpose stationery, gadget and toy store. This place was an important stopping point for children, adolescents and adults in the neighborhood.”
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As an adolescent, while not allowed by his family to purchase a toy gun, Marion did have a particular affection for roll caps, sold at Levy Bros. “Red rolls with little bumps of something that exploded, popped really, and smelled great when they were put in a toy gun, popped with a pencil or stomped on the sidewalk.”
As a child, Marion was not only a customer, but he also worked at Levy Brothers during the Christmas season, convincing parents to buy relatively higher priced “educational toys.”
Stationery stores were the major source of schools supplies. Some items on a long list that would make most baby boomers nostalgic, many essentials no longer or rarely used post -computer, include colored 24″x 36′ sheets of oak tag poster board, multi-colored construction paper, coloring books, #2 Faber pencils, pencil sharpeners, rubber cement, Elmer’s glue (first marketed 1947), tubes of Duco Cement, graph paper, compasses, protractors, rulers (in wood or sometimes in red), and yellow or blue plastic and Scotch Tape.
Crayons were a very important stationery store item, especially when a notable new twist was announced, like Crayola’s 1958 launch of the 64 crayon set with a sharpener built into the box.
But, as beloved as stationery stores were, owners found that making ends meet was an uphill battle as real estate became more expensive on the Upper West Side.
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Speaking of the futility of staying in the business, Kaplan said: “If my rent were to go up substantially, which I assume it would even if we weren’t torn down, it’s not as if could just start charging higher prices….I can’t charge $2.99 for Scotch tape that everyone else is charging $2.49 … What it does mean is that I’ll only carry the expensive lines.” Resigned, Kaplan expected that rents would be raised exorbitantly and his lease would not be renewed after 1987. After 30 years he had spent developing the shop, he grieved, “It’s all worth zero now. Zero.”
Despite the ups and downs of the economy over the decades and the challenges of the current COVID period, Stationery and Toy World, Gold Leaf Stationers and Janoff’s Stationery are among few stores that remain, encouraging customers to shop local. Stationery and Toy World even has a chalkboard sign outside the shop urging support of mom and pop businesses.
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Does the stationery store on the northeast corner of 99th Street still exist? Same side as the Metro (Midtown) theatre? Was I think Telfus, then West Side Stationery. I grew up on W. 99th during the 50s and 60s and know it was still there around 2010.
My father Manny had a candy store between 98th and 99th on Broadway. We also sold stationery/school supplies.
Abe! This is so surreal. I spent most of my age 12 to 14 years “hanging out” at Manny’s. I remember 7c cokes (yeah I am old) and your dad was so patient and indulgent of those of us who would spend little but stand in front of the store for hours. I lived on 97th and Riverside, in a tumultuous home. Manny’s was a refuge for me. What a lovely memory to come across.
I remember the great one o Broadway in the low 80’s. Did that store move for a while to W. 79th, north side of the street – a bit west of the Lucerne?
Does anyone remember Menash on Broadway around 83rd Street?
Yes!! That was a great store! (I think I got a set of Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls there, so they were definitely versatile as to their lineup of merchandise.)
My father was a manufacturer in the stationery business. He felt that what really killed the mom and pop stationery stores were the big box stores like Staples. They demanded cheaper prices in order to undersell the small stores. If the supplier didn’t agree, they went to someone else who would. Their buying power was/is tremendous.
Like Ken, I grew up on 83rd street around the corner from Levy Brothers. We would just go in to browse and figure out what we would request for a birthday or holiday. Or spend our allowance there on a Steiff animal (a small one) or pinky ball or chalk. I was probably in there 3 or 4 times a week.
There aren’t many stationary stores worth their salt actually. It’s so damn sad. Real Estate prices and the big box stores have out almost all of them out of business. Art Brown was one…I miss them all
As a life-long New Yorker of 70 years, i appreciate the story and the memories. However, the name of the legendary rubber ball is Spalding, not Spaldeen. The latter is the spelling for how the name was mispronounced.
West side stationary store on 99th street next to the metro is still around and great. I remember your father Mannie’s candy store. As a kid I had my morning fix of vanilla egg cream and red pistachio nuts. I remember your mother as well. Nostalgia!
Touching and meaningful story. I shared it on my LinkedIn Hugh J Keenan.. I work in the stationery industry for Snopake Ltd. London.
I got this from my college mate Richie Roth..
I’d to chime in..I grew in 838 WEA…ps. 75
Mannies now fresn in my mind…2cent tall pretzels 36 cent malted enough for an extra little bit more that a glass Gristies next door.
Hi, Roger. Just saw this.
This is Abe Goteiner. My father was the Manny in “Manny’s Candy Store”.
The grocery next to 2609 Broadway was Busy Bee.
When were you at P.S. 75? My brother David and I transfered in from the Bronx (P.S. 99) around 1958. I was in the fifth grade, David in the third. Friends included Bruce Mitchell and Jay Adler.
Does anyone remember the stationary store on across from the lipstick building on on 54th and 3rd? It began with an “S” it was a mix
Of stationary and furniture.
54th and 3rd? How does that qualify as the Upper West Side?
Hi Abe,
Karl Grossner here. Good to see your name and be reminded of Manny’s – my home away from home for 10 years or so. Looong time ago but fresh memories.
So? What happened?
agoteiner@aol.com.
I stay in touch with Frank Kelleher, Jay Adler and Bruce Mitchell.
Live in Worcester, MA, now.
KARL GROSSNER !!!
Wow !!! How the heck are you?
Please, please email me at agoteiner@aol.com. Would LOVE to hear from you.
What was the name of the large stationery store that was close to 4th and Pike street. Also was in Nothgate and Southcenter malls. This was in the 1960s.
Karl Grossner-were you friends with Marc Romanelli? your name is familiar. Email is wizword2000@yahoo.com if you want to answer.
Hi.
I never heard back from Karl.
He lived on 98th Street near West End Avenue back then. Had at least one sister.
Would be around 71-72 years old now.