Deadly Dragon Sound Reggae Record Shop Forced from 102 Forsyth Street After 11 Years in Business
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Deadly Dragon Sound, 100 Forsyth St.
The crate digging on Forsyth Street will come to a close later this month.
When the adjoining tenements at 100-102 Forsyth Street sold back in January for $16 million, we knew that a neighborhood treasure probably wouldn’t survive the changing hands. Deadly Dragon Sound, the eleven-year-old record shop specializing in Reggae music, is bowing out. The new landlord here, Veracity Real Estate, reportedly refused to renew the lease.
Deadly Dragon Sound owner Jeremy Freeman announced the news on Facebook yesterday, lashing out at the greedy real estate industry killing creativity. “Like many small businesses in New York City, we have spent 11 years fighting the good fight against real estate interests more interested in eeking out maximum profit rather than investing in and sustaining the diverse, dynamic and unique communities that used to define New York City.”
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Bowery Boogie commissioned mural, July 2013
Its last day in business, rather fittingly, is scheduled for Record Store Day (April 16). A new location could be in the cards, though, as Freeman noted, “We hope the spirit of 102 Forsyth will continue with us when we open a new space in the future.”
Below is the full letter to the Deadly Dragon Sound faithful…
Dear All —
It is with heavy hearts but positive spirits that I have to announce that our new landlords have decided not to renew our lease for our store front at 102 Forsyth street. Like many small businesses in New York City, we have spent 11 years fighting the good fight against real estate interests more interested in eeking out maximum profit rather than investing in and sustaining the diverse, dynamic and unique communities that used to define New York City.
Our final day at the store will be Record Store Day, April 16th. While we search for a new space, our website will continue functioning as per normal.
For the past eleven years, we have been proud to have been part of our Chinatown / Forsyth street neighborhood — we have seen kids grow into adults, we have made lasting friendships with our neighbors and we felt a true part of a vital and inspiring place. We have met so many artists, sound systems, selectors and collectors over the years and cherish the support of the reggae community in New York and throughout the world. The 102 Forsyth space has given us so many wonderful memories and helped to develop so many tight and lasting friendships. We hope the spirit of 102 Forsyth will continue with us when we open a new space in the future.
Once again we want to thank all the customers who have shopped with us over the past eleven years — you have given us so much: support, kindness, knowledge, laughter, beers aplenty and a genuine feeling of being part of a rich and loving community.
Nuff Respect and our sincere thanks,
Deadly Dragon Sound
A bit of bio from their website:
In 2005, Jeremy Freeman aka Scratch Famous and Jason DeBeck aka Selector JD opened the retail side of Deadly Dragon, expanding it into, not just a sound-system, but one of the finest resources for reggae fanatics around. The retail store at 102 Forsyth, in the heart pf NY’s Chinatown, is a unique retail environment with a comprehensive selection of new and vintage vinyl from Mento 78s to the newest tunes from Jamaica. Deadly Dragon has also created a limited edition reissue imprint label that has released over 35 different 7” vinyl singles to great critical acclaim.
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