Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chinatown, with stores like Pearl River Market, is one of the destinations where you can find unique (and inexpensive) items for yourself or to give as
gifts.
The last time my country friend came to visit, I noticed him limping around with a broken shoelace. I immedi-
ately tried to steer him into the nearest drugstore, but he resisted, telling me he didn't want to be slammed with
those “big-city shoelace prices.”
I still chuckle at this story when I'm scoring some crazy deal in the heart of the city. The volume advantage
that eight million citizens provide can't be touched out in the sticks. Clothes, electronics, furniture, food, and,
yes, even shoelaces, are available here for a fraction of their price in the hinterlands. Plus Gotham's refined taste
is great news for the cost-conscious when it comes time for gowns and coffee tables to begin their second and
third lives. New York thrift stores, flea markets, and curbside trash piles are all treasure-troves for the patient and
sharp-eyed, meaning savvy New Yorkers can finish off their cheap shopping lists better than anybody else in the
U.S. of A. Which is helpful when your rent bill ensures you're living on a shoestring.
1 Dirt Cheap Shopping Zones
I'll never understand why New York stores of similar stripe all jam themselves into the same neighborhoods.
The Bowery is dotted with restaurant supply shops, and then suddenly every storefront is dedicated to lighting.
Lampshade shops gather on nearby side streets. Whatever the initial cause, the effect of the single-product dens-
ity is bargaining power galore for the consumer. Don't like the price? Walk next door and see if you can do a little
better.
Downtown
