Facing a bleeker future

By Matthew Lysiak | Special to amNew York

It's official: Tommy Hilfiger has arrived on Bleecker Street.

The store, the first of its kind to cater exclusively to women, opened its doors at 375 Bleecker Street on Sept. 28. The hope is that the famous street's trendy image will now rub off on the upscale clothing line -- that is, unless Bleecker's 15 minutes have already expired.

Hilfiger certainly still believes that time isn't up on the Bleecker brand name. "It is a jewel box of a store on a street where people understand and appreciate fashion," Hilfiger said about the opening. "It allows us to live in the heart of creativity."

Shopping at Murray's Cheese Video The addition of Hilfiger only adds to a larger trend of upscale movement. In the past decade, Bleecker Street has become a sought-after destination for high-end merchants such as Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Mulberry and James Perse.

But that heart of creativity, built on the Bohemian revolution of the '60s, has a fading pulse, at least according to author Elizabeth Currid, who in her book "The Warhol Economy," argues that the current transition from artsy to upscale is not only extinguishing the cultural significance of the area, but the health of the local economy, too.

Currid believes that much of the appeal is intrinsically tied to the famous vibe -- and when the vibe suffers, so does the bottom line. "To many, the appeal of the Village was that it was built up by a Bohemian crowd, through music venues, art and culture. But the upscale merchants that now flood the scene will eventually spell the end," said Currid. "When the cost barrier becomes too high and young Bohemians are replaced by young investment bankers, the image that people are currently buying into will no longer exist and Bleecker will become just another homogeneous city street."

Currid chalks it up to the cycles of capitalism. "The trend is a market inevitability, unless super-proactive community leaders intervene to enact aggressive zoning measures and rent caps," said Currid. "It may sound anti-establishment, but sometimes growth can be bad."

Many in the Village, an area with a history of progressive politics, share her sentiments, which live in the memory of one local official. "About three years ago I was walking down Bleecker with my girlfriend when we saw a purse in the window that we liked, but we were shocked when we saw the $1,500 price tag," said District Manager of Community Board 2 Bob Gormley.

"The image of the Village as a poor artist community may still persist with some, but the truth is, that train left the station a long time ago."

But the change may be refreshing to Village icon Andy Warhol, who had his own perspective on the merger of art and business.

"Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art," Warhol said.