Has anyone been to Shopsin’s? Does anyone understand what’s the deal with it?
Jess and I tried it out tonight after having wondered about it since I moved onto it’s block a month ago. . . and I’m still confused. It’s called Shopsin’s General Store and it’s full of regulars. It used to be located somewhere else and now it’s on the corner of Carmine and Bedford. It has containers of candy (old time candy) all over and you’re free to eat any of it (I had a Charleston Chew and Tootsie Roll. Jess opted for a Fun Dip and some Smarties.). The menu lists (seriously) over 100 soups and the other 5 pages are so crammed full of things that your head will spin. The cook is the owner and the waitress is his wife. Their last name is Shopsin. It kind of reminds you of your grandma’s house, yet it’s right off Bleecker Street.
The Charlston Chew made me lapse into a childhood memory where I used to collect change around the house (the jackpot was in my parent’s bedroom where my dad emptied the change from his jeans at the end of the day) and ride my bike across Oshkosh Street, which we weren’t allowed to do because of the traffic, to go to The Bottle Shop, a liquor store in New London, WI, to buy candy. The candy bars were 35 cents and the Charleston Chew was my favorite.. the one with the chocolate inside and outside. Afterwards, I rode my bike back home holding my candy and depending where my parents were I would either eat my candy secretly on the side of the house or behind it, or in my bedroom. Why secretly? If I was caught with candy then my parents would know I crossed Oshkosh Street! I think my got caught once.. big trouble!
Further research on Shopsin’s:
- Shopsin’s Site
- Article from the New Yorker
- Citysearch Review
- Ukazu Review
- George Weber’s Review
- Some guy, Andy, talks about Shopsin’s