On the Lower East Side, a hidden gem lies at 177 East Houston street. Named Army & Navy Bags, it is different than the cafés and delis nearby. The ambience of the Lower East Side is very evidently upper class and full of tourists with the famous Katz’s Delicatessen and Russ and Daughters Cafe on the same block. Bars line the blocks, and expensive clothing shops line the side streets. When was the last time I saw an Army & Navy store of any kind? Probably never, in all honesty. And the last place I expected to see one was on the Lower East Side.
The first time my partner and I visited the Lower East Side, this was actually the first storefront we stopped at. Although so subtle, it is unusual and we were immediately drawn to it. However, on the weekend, the woman implored us to return on a different day and so we did just that on a weekday.
The shop is a surplus store, and sells a multitude of military clothing, collectibles, and army-style bags. Henry, who has been an employee here for about ten years, is from China. His kind demeanor is charming as he speaks of how he really enjoys working here. He also enjoys military related items. “One thing about military store- they last long, so nobody complains, so I feel confident to, you know, work here without people bringing back the merchandise and saying ‘oh, this is garbage’.” The products are good quality and that is likely why the shop is still quite successful.
The store only has two employees, and only one at a time, so Henry doesn’t really know the other employee as she works on weekends and he works Mondays through Fridays. This is quite the feat considering that the store is open from 10 AM to 8 PM, and Henry is the only staff member there for those twelve hours!
Henry doesn’t know the owner well personally, but tells us that he is the same owner who opened the shop approximately thirty years ago and still rents the storefront to this day. He notes that the owner was in the military, talks about the military and military related items nonstop, and is “so proud to own a store like that.” Furthermore, Henry emphasizes that the owner is very passionate about his business. He’s “crazy about military stuff.” According to Henry, the owner and the store in general provide people good service and good merchandise so people can enjoy it.
When we asked Henry about some obstacles the business faces, he cited that there are less military stores because of rising rent, gentrification, and unyielding landlords. Yet these issues are not the only obstacles standing in the way of a thriving business. Henry regard the internet as a major obstacle to the business. This is because the internet has made available to consumers online retailers such as Amazon, which have been “killing businesses.” Instead of buying the merchandise in stores, customers order them online, and this has become increasing convenient to consumers due to quick shipping dates, free shipping, and discounts on websites such as Amazon. So in general, the number of customers has declined over time.
The good news is that the location is convenient and contributes to how busy the store is. That makes sense because the Lower East Side is always bustling, and I’m sure that those who do not know about the surplus store are curious passerby’s like Juan and myself who enter anyway. It’s hard to say when the place is busiest, though. Almost every day is the same. Most customers come back, and the clientele has been relatively consistent. And to add to that, a lot of tourists visit. Henry details that a lot of tourists, especially European, love the military stuff. A lot of the customers are, of course, veterans. As time goes on, more women are shopping at the store as military apparel has become more fashionable in general.
The little store is greatly bettered by the attentive salesman who we were speaking to. Let’s not forget how Henry said he was proud of Juan and suggested that Juan be a reporter, specifically a military reporter because that is more exciting. He was also quite surprised to hear that Juan is in college and is not, in fact, fifteen years old (finally, someone who agrees with me!) This was undeniably a man with humor although he was quite tired. Yes, we noticed that fake yawn Henry, but we still thank you for your time and for being so informative.
Although this is an unusual business for urban New Yorkers, this business is sure to continue to be successful and attract new customers off of the street as well as encourage loyal customers to return yet again.
