The other day I received a tip from a friend (thanks Mr. Casimir) that there was a Bitcoin logo on the doors of a pop-up shop in midtown NYC. Sure enough, there is indeed a craft-fair style pop-up shop that will accept Bitcoins for goods! The group putting it on is the Hester Street Fair and they are known for putting on popular craft fairs on in the Lower East Side on Saturdays from May to October, as well as a a series of “Night Markets” held on Thursday nights in the lot next to 835 6th Ave on 29th St.
Charles Chessler Photography – http://www.charleschesslerphotography.com/ – proudly accepts Bitcoin at the Hester Street Fair Pop-Up Holiday Shop on 21 December, 2013
I took a few minutes to speak with co-owner and operator, Suhyun Pak about his interest in Bitcoin and he told me that it was his association with local Bitcoin enthusiast with Patrick C. of xCublcle who introduced him to the idea and encouraged him to take the leap into the world of Bitcoin for his business back in November. And Suhyun has done so in full-force, convincing the businesses that rent tables from his group to accept Bitcoin for payments and when the outdoor fair season picks up in the spring of 2014, they will even be able to use Bitcoin to pay their table rental fees.
Spelunkin Magazine’s David Moon shows off his purchases at the Hester Street Fair Pop-Up Holiday Shop
The most unfortunate part of this tale is that the Pop-Up Holiday Shop ends today at 7 pm on 21 December 2013. Also, while many people came in to ask Suhyun about Bitcoin or to just have conversations about the system, there were no actual Bitcoin-based sales….that is, until now! Spelunkin Magazine has always wanted to provide support for those people, businesses, and organizations that are willing to take those first few steps into utilizing crypto currencies in their day-to-day lives and in keeping with that spirit, I made the first purchase! For a few bitcents, I was able to buy some cool handmade bracelets made from recycled materials such as cassette tapes and flip flops from Saskia de Vries Designs.
Looking at just a fraction of the offerings presented by Saskia de Vries Designs