JillAnne Vacates 162 Allen Street, Still Has Pole
In late December, just as JillAnne began accumulating significant media attention from mainstream news outlets, her brick-and-mortar greeting card shop shuttered. And rather quietly, we might add. But it was apparently never her intention to stay at 162 Allen Street for an extended period of time.
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In an email to us, the single-named artist explained that the Allen Street space was little more than a test. A two-month trial period, as it were, “to see how the neighborhood reacted, try out that particular location and to see in which direction I wanted to go next.” The following Facebook farewell is further explanation:
A big thanks to everyone and the media for making ‘JillAnne’s Winter 2010 Card and Pole Store’ a success! The Winter LES location is now closed but you may now order designs on-line at: http://www.jillanne.com/. Keep in touch because you never know where you’ll see me poling next!!
JillAnne first opened at 162 Allen Street in early October, offering a surprisingly wide variety of uniquely-designed calendars and cards. Shortly thereafter, a stripper pole was, uh, inserted in the center of her store to help attract passersby with acrobatic, semi-nude stripteases. Those baited customers who then purchased $50 or more received a personal dance down to the “bootie shorts.” Not surprisingly, the brilliant gimmick worked, and resulted in plenty of local notoriety. And sales.
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Ultimately, time will tell whether the JillAnne brand (and pole) will return to the traditional retail game. In the meantime, her direct wholesale business continues unabated.
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