by Erin Conlon Since announcing the sad news of their impending closure in July, the past month at Crest Hardware has been a celebration of life of sorts — a bittersweet blend of logistics, memory-sharing, and community in a way that only a longtime neighborhood staple like Crest is really capable of. And today, that all comes to an end. Physically, anyway.
After 62 years at 558 Metropolitan Avenue, today is the day that Crest closes its doors…
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And with that, one of the last vestiges of sanity has officially left Williamsburg. The owner clearly took a dig at the 20-something trust fund Gen Z crowd who wouldn’t know or appreciate community if it slapped them in the face. How telling was this statement: “…people who traveled from upstate New York, New Orleans, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and beyond.” Anyone with a modicum of sense has left NYC and all that’s left is a hollowed out shell of extremists and the trust fund ilk who treat it like a personal playground. The NYC we knew and love doesn’t exist anymore and this closing was the death knell.
Oh Mary. The statement you quote as proof of “the owner taking a dig” isn’t even a statement from the owner. I wilI miss Crest sorely. I have shopped there for twenty five years. My guess is that is still not quite enough for you to give me any license to call myself a local. New York is always dying and with that comes a constant rebirth. It’s possible to mourn Crest without blaming the next generation. I’m sorry that you find change sad and scary. I do too. At least I know one thing in New York will never die — there’s always going to be a know it all in the corner like you, telling everyone else how much they’ve screwed it all up.
Too bad I cannot say goodbye in person because I’m overseas … Our corner of Brooklyn will never be the same without you guys … Crest’s closing leaves a big big gap … Thank you for what you gave. There’s NOTHING like a good hardware store, and then a garden center to boot – truly priceless! All my very best for your lives from here, Erika
GOOD LUCK CREST HARDWARE OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES. I WAS 3RD GENERATION AT 977 MANHATTAN AVE GREENPOINT. WE WERE IN THE PAINT AND HARDWARE BUISNESS SINCE 1920.
I DECIDED TO RETIRE AND CLOSED THE BUISNESS IN 2014 . I MISS EVERYONE BUT I WISH YOU THE BEST !
Wow. Crest and Joe – I love them both! I’m happy they got a beautiful sendoff for the store. The place was always full of life and love. I especially loved the store’s art installations. Crest was a very big part of my art school stuff making!