I was on Fifth Avenue above 9th Street today: my therapist is up in that vicinity. I didn’t have time to go to 13th street to check out the vacant Salvation Army store but I did see it out of the corner of my eye from 11th Street.

After therapy, I ordered a latte at Cafe Regular and pondered the tragic events of a few weeks ago at the Delores and Alex Beauty Shop next door, where the owner was killed by a jealous lover who then proceeded to shoot himself. A murder suicide, it was a pretty grisly affair; very sad. People crowded across the street the day it happened. I overheard a number of them say that she was a very nice woman. There was a candlelight vigil for her organized by Safe Haven, a local domestic violence group, in front of PS 321 last Friday night.

On my way home from therapy, to decompress, I often stop at Jeans Express, my favorite discount, fashion knock-off clothing store on Fifth. The place pulls me in every time – their stock changes weekly and their prices… Everything in the store is under $24 dollars and most things are between $4.99 and $12.99.

I’ve bought corderoys, yoga pants, t-shirts, pajama bottoms, button down shirts and hippie skirts for me and boxers and socks for my son. If it’s in "vogue," they’ve got it at cut rates.

I struck up a conversation with the young Indian man who is always behind the counter:

"Did you hear that a Gap is coming to Fifth Avenue?" I asked in a near whisper.
"No, I didn’t know that," he said, his eyes lighting up.
"You didn’t hear?" I said excitedly.
"No. Where is it going to be?" he said, clearly very interested.
"on the corner of 13th Street where the old Salvation Army used to be." I said.
"That’s on the other side of the street, right?"
"Yes," I said realizing that he doesn’t get out much from behind the counter if he has to ask where the Salvation Army was."
"Well, that’s good for me. Very good for me. More competition. It’s going to be good for me." he said.

Later at the playground in JJ Byrne Park I met my sister who was pushing Sonya on a swing and hanging out with a good friend who is a real estate broker in the neighborhood.

"Have you heard about the Gap going in on Fifth Avenue?" I said figuring she’d probably have even more info about it.
"I read about it on your blog, heard about it from you. I hope it’s true. I’ve already told a lot of people."
"I have a great source. She lives on 13th Street."
"Did they take the For Sale sign down?" she asked.
"I’m not sure. I tried calling Gap public relations in San Francisco…" 

The conversation trailed off. She thinks I should rent a storefront up there and open a cafe.

I actually did call the Gap corporate offices in San Francisco before my therapy session and asked the receptionsit for the public relations department. She connected me to a voicemail in marketing. It didn’t sound like the right person to talk to about a new location in Brooklyn.

I will call San Franciso later on, maybe tomorrow. As always, will be sure to keep everyone posted.