Fishs Eddy (retailer)

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Fishs Eddy is a dinnerware, flatware and glassware retailer originally based in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York City that specializes in found dishes and serving pieces.

Contents

History

Fishs Eddy was founded in 1986, when founders and current owners Julie Gaines and David Lenovitz got lost in Upstate New York and stumbled upon a small town named Fishs Eddy. [1] Gaines and Lenovitz discovered an old barn during that trip that had stockpiled restaurant dishware that had survived a fire. [2] They offered to buy the whole lot, took it back to their apartment in Manhattan and used the inventory to open a store at 889 Broadway, near Union Square. [3] They additionally opened a warehouse in Jersey City, New Jersey. [4]

A graphic novel about the history of the story, by Gaines and illustrated by her and Lenovitz's son, called Minding the Store, was published in 2018. [5] [6]

In 2021, Fishs Eddy started giving tours of its dinnerware collection, located on the second floor of the store, primarily featuring vintage "namesake plates." [7] [8] In 2022, artist Ben Lenovitz started making and selling potratit sketches of pet s and animals at Fishs Eddy. [9]

Aesthetic

Fishs Eddy is known for offering archive and antique dinnerware, including plates and cups purchased from American Airlines and the Syracuse China Corporation. [10] [11] The company also produces some of its own dinnerware, with an aesthetic often called quirky. [12] Its product line includes dinnerware with faces of American politicians and a skyline of New York City. [13] As of September 2018, the store was considered a top retailer of wine decanters. [14]

The store has also released dinnerware and other items created in collaboration with retailers and celebrities, including Alan Cumming, Todd Oldham, Amy Sedaris and West Elm. [15]

References

  1. "About Us". Fishs Eddy. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  2. Dailey, Ruth Ann. "Where to find home decor items in NYC". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  3. Hochwald, Lambeth (February 5, 2015). "Dishing on Success: How Fishs Eddy Found Its Footing". Entrepreneur. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  4. Goodman, Wendy (October 26, 2010). "A Look Inside Julie and David Gaines's Fishs Eddy Warehouse in Jersey City". New York Magazine . Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  5. Fabricant, Florence (October 29, 2018). "The Dish on Fishs Eddy". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  6. Hong, Catherine (October 30, 2018). "The Funky Little Kitchen and Homewares Shop That Captured the Hearts of New Yorkers". Architectural Digest. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  7. Diamond, Jason (February 28, 2023). "Fishs Eddy Opens the Doors on Its Secret Vintage Plate Museum". Eater NY. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  8. Scott, Max (February 4, 2022). "NYC's Fishs Eddy is "The Smallest Museum with the Biggest Gift Shop"". Untapped New York. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  9. Richardson, Kimberly (December 4, 2024). "NYC artist captures whimsical side of your pet". 6abc Philadelphia. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  10. Suqi, Rima. "Fishs Eddy Offers Dishes From Archives". New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  11. "Fishs Eddy: The 25 Year History". blog.westelm.com. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  12. "Fishs Eddy's Co-Founder on Dumpster Diving, Politics, and 'Good Morning Asshole' Mugs". Racked NY. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  13. Alexander, Keira; Deliso, Meredith; Rosenberg, Scott A. (November 16, 2017). "Lighten your wallet at our picks for best shopping in the city". am New York. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  14. Miles, Robert. "Wine Decanters Market Trends, Cost Structure Analysis, Growth Opportunities And Forecast To 2022 – Redfield Herald". redfieldherald.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  15. Konstantin, Lynne. "A few of our favorite things from Fishs Eddy". The Jewish News. Retrieved January 3, 2019.