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Bob and Judi's Coolectibles to Shutter in July
Thursday, May 3, 2025 at 9:43AM 
Some sad news coming down the wire this morning: Bob and Judi's Coolectibles, the quirky vintage/ housewares shop that's been in business since 1997 on Fifth between Union and President Streets, will be shutting down at the end of July, as the owners, Bob and Judi Pheiffer, have decided to pack it in and move to California.
Here's the message that was sent out to friends this morning:
TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS
After 15 wonderful years, Bob & Judi will be closing their store at the end of July. We are having a big sale and invite you to come in and shop for that special treasure, or stock up now for the holidays. We would like to thank all our customers, neighbors and friends for their kindness and support throughout the 15 years. Bob & Judi
The store was chock full of affordable, usable gifts and vintage kitchy things, as opposed to the high-end antiques that you tend to find in similar shops in Manhattan. It was always a joy to just browse through their collection of old Brooklyn photos and other various knick-knacks, household items, toys, and kitchenware, and was great when you needed a cool gift in a pinch.
Bob and Judi have lived in the Slope for well over 30 years, and first met each other when Bob was 28 and Judi 18. They've become a neighborhood institution (and were one of the new Fifth Avenue's pioneers), so while it will be sad to see them--and their endlessly fascinating merchandise--go, I wish them the best in their new life out west!
Closing in Storefronts
Reader Comments (17)
Goddamnit. Who's going to show up five minutes before my stoop sale was about to start now?!
Actually, never found their prices to be that good for the knick knacks they sold. Looking forward to a new business in that space.
First they came for the the hookers on 5th Avenue,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't into hookers.
Then they came for the old doughnut shop,
and I didn't speak out because I was doing the gluten-free thing.
Then they came for the bad Mexican joints,
and I didn't speak out because I wouldn't have eaten there on a dare.
Now they come for the the quirky vintage/ housewares shop that's been in business since 1997 on Fifth between Union and President Streets....
Ah too bad. I loved their shop and they are just really wonderful people. Good luck in California!
OH NO!! I love this store and shop there often, this is soo sad!!!
And, you got to admit, at least it was something different and useful on 5th Avenue, unlike yet another restaurant, bar, or yogurt shop.
ParkSlopePerson, I really enjoyed this store too, but there are 10 other vintage/knicknack stores in the neighborhood. They may have been the first, but certainly today there's nothing different about it. There are more vintage stores on 5th Avenue than yogurt stores!
@Parkslopewoman There are a million vintage clothing stores, but the only other vintage knick-knack store similar to this that I can think of off the top of my head is Under the Pig, which closed last year. Where are the others?
HPS,
you can buy overpriced vintage things just off the corner of 6th st & 5th ave, also at the flea market at 321, handful of odds and ends at housing works, the vintage store where sally's army used to be on 5th ave in the teens, just to name a few places off the top of my head.
There's that place on 5th Avenue and 13th Street is it? Big place, 2 floors, lots of knick knacks. there's another place (jewish owned) up somewhere near st. marks. there's housing works. i'm sure i'm forgetting more. oh yeah, hoi poillo on 5th avenue and 6th street
best place to get knick nacks is ps. 321 flea market. half the price of bob and judy's. or on stoop sales.
I love this store. We actually got some great lights (that they had rewired) there way cheaper than we saw almost the same thing at other stores.
I also can't think of any other still open stores in Park Slope with a similar offering. I can't blame them for wanting to head west, though.
I'm sorry, i disagree parkslopewoman, most of the vintage places sell 90% clothing with only a smattering of actual antiques and collectibles. All the stores you named (with the exception of hoi polloi), have a shelf or two of collectibles, whereas this place is all that. Plus vintage jewelry and let's not forget the wonderful collection of old time Brooklyn and Park Slope photos they sell.
And, personally, I never found them overpriced.
But, hey, let's put another bar or restaurant in this spot, yeah, this neighborhood needs more $20 hamburger joints!!!
Everyone: This place was good & not overpriced at all. One of the last true NYC antique/knick-knack stores around. You could actually talk to the owners & they could genuinely help you find cool stuff. But like ParkSlopePerson ironically states, it seems like NYC in 2012 cares about artisanal burgers and such.
Now the flea markets are basically the center of this stuff. Sad day & sad news.
Yes a store that opened in 1997 is the "last true NYC antique/knick-knack stores around."
Give me a break, its a nice store and sad to see it go, but it is far from an 'institution' or the end of an era or something.
Many people have a narrative and then try to fit everything into that narrative....
"One of the last true NYC antique/knick-knack stores around."
You cannot be serious. But I'm sure you are.