So the whole Shopsin’s story was an urban myth. A rumor. A lie. Gawker has the real story – or so they say. A freelance writer named
Kayleen Schaefer from the City section tipped me off on Tuesday  because she wanted to interview me.

I’m a freelance writer with the City section of The New York Times and I’m working on a story about Shopsin’s. It’s not moving to Brooklyn—it was just a rumor—so I’m writing about the press coverage and panicked customers that resulted from the rumor. I saw that you wrote about it on your blog and wanted to talk to you about it. I imagine you must be disappointed it’s not moving to Brooklyn. Please give me a call or email me back by Wednesday. Thanks very much.  Kayleen Schaefer

First the Daily News said that Kenny was considering a move. Now Gawker says it was never true. Ever. This from Gawker:

A few weeks ago, as you might recall, New York
mag announced that Shopsin’s, the West Village institution with an
interminable menu and a cantankerously charming — charmingly
cantankerous? — owner, was up and moving to Brooklyn, looking for
cheaper rent. Then the Daily News followed up on the story, downgrading the move from fait accompli
to something Kenny Shopsin was considering. But now we’re hearing it’s
not true at all. A source who lives across the street from the
restaurant emails:

Shopsin’s is NOT moving to Brooklyn. I was in there last
weekend and the Zack Shopsin (owner’s son) assured me they are not
moving. What happened was: a journalist was sitting in there and
overheard Kenny Shopsin say something to someone about how Brooklyn was
cheaper. And the journalist then asked Kenny if they were moving, and
Kenny told him to write whatever he wanted to write. (They hate
publicity).

It’s sounds crazy, yes; but then so is Shopsin’s. Plus, we ran this
version past one of the city’s foremost experts on the establishment,
who insisted on complete anonymity but said, “My impression is that
your e-mail informant has it right.” That’s good enough for us.

Well, no matter what Kayleen, Gawker, and the Daily News say, I think Shopsin’s is moving to Brooklyn. And I still stand by my story that the Gap is moving into that Salvation Army space on Fifth Avenue…