Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
store holds an amazing collection of vinyl, along with CDs and DVDs.
2246 Broadway, btw. 80th and 81st sts.
212/362-0706.
www.westsiderbooks.com
.
Subway: 1 to 79th St. Other location:
WestsiderRecords,
233 W. 72nd St., btw. Broadway and West End Ave.
212/874-1588.
Subway: 1/2/3 to 72nd St.
COSMETICS
Cosmetic Market
Aside from long aisles packed with perfumes and makeup, this little discounter also stocks
gifts and housewares. Discontinued products make the crazy-low prices possible—my wife finds her lipstick
here for $2.50 (the tube would run $10 at a commercial drugstore). Max Factor, Maybelline, and L'Oréal are
among the big names represented. An abbreviated foodstuff selection in back has great prices on oils, vinegars,
and Italian coffees.
15 E. 37th St., btw. Fifth and Madison aves.
212/725-3625.
Subway: 6 to 33rd St.
Edibles
Cooking at home is an obvious way of cutting costs, but a trip to the corner deli for fixings can feel like a shake-
down by the time you step away from the cash register. Most NYC grocery stores aren't much better, but a few
specialty shops offer accessible comestibles.
Deluxe Food Market, Inc.
This market is a mishmash of a bakery, buffet, and grocery store. It's menacingly
crowded, but the high-volume turnover keeps things fresh, and the price is right. The steam table in front has
fluffy, jumbo-size dumplings (four for $2), along with hot dishes that are priced at two for $3.50 (if you don't
speak Chinese, just point). The bakery keeps pastry prices below $1, a premade ham sandwich is $2, and a pack-
aged chef's chicken platter is $3.50. Past the small eat-in section, you'll find a scrum forming around the regular
grocery store goods. Fish, meats, and greens are all at rock-bottom prices. You can also load up on frozen special-
ties, such as big packs of dumplings (the no reselling signs posted all over the shop are a pretty good indicator
that you're getting a deal).
79 Elizabeth St., btw. Hester and Grand sts.
212/925-5766.
Subway: B/D to Grand St.; J/Z to Bowery.
Dowel Quality Products
Many shoppers only know this store for its unrivaled beer selection, conveniently loc-
ated near the BYOB restaurants of Curry Row. There's a lot more to like here, however, including health and
beauty items, incense, teas, and fruits and vegetables. The best savings come on Dowel's own packaged goods,
with bulk rice, chutneys, lentils, and curries of every hue among the highlights.
91 First Ave., btw. 5th and 6th sts.
212/
979-6045.
www.dualspecialty.com
.
Subway: F to Second Ave.
East Village Cheese Store
This discount dairy destination is the perfect starting point for your next party. You
can get bread, crackers, pâtés, pickles, and other side items, although the jaw-dropping prices are on the cheeses.
In the front refrigerators, goat cheese tubes, and Boursin packages are under $2, and Bries and Camemberts are
just $1.50. Behind the counter you'll find a long list of specials on fancy goudas, fetas, and cheddars for $2.99 a
pound. The giveaway prices aren't indicative of lower quality. These aren't second-rate goods, just items picked
up when some importer added a mistaken zero to an order. Their mistake is your gain.
40 Third Ave., btw. Ninth and Tenth
sts.
212/477-2601
. Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N/R to 8th St.
Essex Street Market
When the city squeezed the pushcarts off the Lower East Side 70 years ago, it built a gar-
agelike city market as a replacement. The market evolved into a low-rent grocery store and shopping mall, fre-
quented by Spanish and Chinese locals, who love the prices. (As this is the LES 2.0, gourmet cheeses, pasta, and
chocolate can now be found as well—though few of them qualify as dirt cheap.)
Essex Farm
(
212/533-5609
),
a huge Korean deli, has taken over the north end of the market. They sell just about everything, but the best
deals are on fresh fruit and vegetables. A big container with a blend of gourmet lettuces is just $2.99, fruit salads
are around $3, and when the mangoes are ripe they're two for $1. The middle of the market has butchers, fish-
mongers, and a botanica. In the back you'll find
Batista Grocery
(
212/254-0796
), with great prices on Goya
and other dry goods. Cafe tables are available if you want to make a picnic (on nice days you can take your
meal down to the East River). Eat-in diners can also take advantage of the legendary
Shopsin's
(
212/924-5160;
www.shopsins.com
)
, relocated here after decades in the West Village. Kenny Shopsin curses like a sailor as he
cooks up “Blisters on my Sisters” (a rice/beans/eggs/tortillas combo for $9), along with some 500-plus addition-
al items. Since this is downtown, there's even an art gallery tucked away in the very back (
Cuchifritos;
212/
598-4124;
www.aai-nyc.org/cuchifritos
;
Tues-Sun noon-6pm).
120 Essex St., btw. Rivington and Delancey sts.
2
12/312-3603.
www.essexstreetmarket.com
.
Subway: F to Delancey St.; J/M/Z to Essex St.
