We’ve always been fascinated by stores that defy the rule of business diversification and focus on only one product. Inspired by a Rice Krispie Treat store on the Upper West Side, we’ve rounded up our favorite one-item purveyors. From a chopstick store to a shop dedicated to vintage video games, check out these NYC stores that sell one thing, focusing on the quirkier items you can find in New York City!
1. Gramercy Typewriter (108 W 17th St.)
Gramercy Typewriter comes straight from your light academia-inspired Pinterest board. In a world where technology and mobile devices are a pillar of the workforce, one might think that old-fashioned typewriters are unnecessary, but Gramercy’s vintage appeal has persisted through three generations. Gramercy is a rarity among vintage shops for its manual typewriter restoration and repair services, which can only be found in a few places nationwide. You may even notice Gramercy’s products in shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or The Post.
2. Uke Hut (36-01 36th Ave.)
Billed as the “first ukulele store in New York,” Uke Hut is also the only ukulele specialty store in the city. Located in Long Island City, the shop stocks “a wide variety of Ukuleles for every budget and need.” They also offer ukelele classes and host performances which you can see on their website!
3. Yunhong Chopsticks (50 Mott Street, Chinatown)
If you’re only going to sell chopsticks, Chinatown is probably an ideal place for your store to be located. But for the most part, these aren’t the everyday chopsticks families use at home, these are beautifully packaged gift items.
4. Joanne Hendricks Cookbooks (488 Greenwich Street)
Don’t be fooled by this quaint little store housed in a charming 200+ year building in Tribeca. Some of the cookbooks at Joanne Hendricks Cookbooks cost over $4000! And some books are older than the building itself. Another shop where you can stock up on cookbooks is Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks at 28 E 2nd St. in the East Village, which started as an appointment-only shop in a basement office in 1997. The cozy shop specializes in rare out-of-print cookbooks, organized by subjects like sauce or etiquette. The personal touch that sets this timeless space apart from the rest is found in the books’ handwritten notes and the memoirs that accompany the recipes.
5. The Fountain Pen Hospital (10 Warren Street)
The Fountain Pen Hospital has been open since 1946. While the shop also sells writing accessories, its main focus is fountain pens. The displays inside the store are like jewelry cabinets but for pens! Also fun–on the website there’s a “Back Room” for vintage pens from the 1970s for sale.
6. 8 Bit and Up Video Games (86 E 3rd St.)
Located on East 3rd street, 8 Bit and Up is a time capsule of the ’80s and ’90s video game scene. Situated on the basement level, the shop is packed floor to ceiling with retro games and consoles, including Atari, PS1, Gameboy, and more, and old-school arcade games like Street Fighter II. If you’re a video game pro, 8 Bit and Up holds regular tournaments so you could meet and compete. They also host birthday parties, rock band karaoke nights, and even corporate events. The lack of windows, low ceilings, fluorescent lights and concrete floor seem to recreate our memories of multi-night Counterstrike marathons.
7. Heatonist Hot Sauce Store (121 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn)
Who doesn’t love hot sauce? Heatonist in Williamsburg is devoted completely to selling hot sauce, with options coming from all over the country as well as those made locally here in New York City. The shop has a large backyard space for events which has a fire pit for BBQs. Owner Noah Chaimberg hopes to help locals and local businesses diversify their knowledge of hot sauce offerings, which we think is as noble a goal as any. There is also a Heatonist Outpost in Chelsea Market.
8. Spandex House (263 W 38th St.)
Just in case you were short on Spandex, along 38th Street in the Garment District you can shop at Spandex House, a shop filled with all the Spandex one could desire. Spandex House claims to be “One of the Largest Spandex Collections of The World.” Inside you’ll find endless rows of many different colors and patterns of stretchy fabric, from tie-dye and sequin to animal print and novelty patterns like skulls and hearts. Queens, Spandex World offers similar wares.
9. The Meadow, A Specialty Shop for Salt (240 Mulberry St.)
The Meadow specializes in salts as well as salted chocolates and bitters, turning selecting the right salt into an art. Walking into the shop on Mulberry Street, at first, is overwhelming: you see rows upon rows of salt varieties before you even notice their wide selections of chocolates and bitters. No one country dominates as a source: many of their salts are from France, but these seasonings truly come from all over the world. If you go in searching for salt from Cyprus, Bali, India, or Slovenia, you will find it. Read more about The Meadow here.
10. Casey’s Rubber Stamps (322 E 11th St)
Between first and second avenues is a hidden gem that any creative soul should see up close. Casey’s Rubber Stamps has been “closed when not open” and “open when not closed” since 1979. The small, cozy space is decorated head to toe with over 10,000 rubber stamp designs and more than 40 different colors of ink pads. Everything on display, in the store catalog and on the shelves, is handmade in-store by John Casey and his workers in the old school stamp fashion, a process twice as long and expensive than newer techniques. Even if you’re not an avid stamp user, Casey’s is a museum of intricate art designs and stamp patterns worth viewing, like its comical slogan stamps or Victorian illustrations.
11. Balloon Saloon
The Balloon Saloon has been selling inflatable decorations for more than 40 years at its original Tribeca location. The store was founded by the husband and wife duo of Sharon and Jerry in 1981 and is still a family-run business. The company has provided balloons for everything from major NYC traditions like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and concerts at Madison Square Garden to personal celebrations like birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries. You can shop in-store or have your balloon arrangements delivered right to your door!
12. Just Bulbs (237 E 58th St)
It’s THE light bulb store, mostly because it’s Just Bulbs. Since 1980, Just Bulbs has stocked fluorescents, incandescents, and sustainable, energy-efficient light bulbs. One of the best parts of the experience isn’t even the high quality product on the shelves, it’s the service. Just Bulbs is known to employ friendly knowledgeable people with at least 20 years of experience in lighting design and bulb expertise. Do we even need to sell you on the lighting and ambiance? Just Bulbs embodies the principle that there’s no better way to showcase your product than letting it shine!
Next, check out these combination coffee shops in NYC where you can get a coffee with a side of something more surprising.
This article has contributions by Michelle Young, Meridith Viguet, Samantha Sokol, Julia Chorun, Nasha Virata, and Nicole Saraniero
