We spoke to Daniel and his wife, Barbara, at their shop called
Dullsville, Inc. at 143 E. 13th St. (between 3rd and 4th
Ave.), a hidden gem specializing in one-of-a-kind gifts
for one-of-a-kind friends.
Daniel: We’ve been here 20 years and we sell everything
from braided plastic baskets to fine bakelite jewelry, early
plastic jewelry made in the 1930s.
Barbara: Named after the man who invented it.
AskaNewYorker: Last time I was here, there was a dog. Where’s
your canine friend now?
Daniel: She’s hiding and she would be found in the closet
underneath the sink. I don’t know why. She’s called Bambi.
She’s named after a famous person, Bambi Bembenek–the woman
from Detroit who escaped from prison. I admired her so much
I named my dog after her. (Editor’s note: actually, she’s
from Wisconsin, see http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/bembenek/1.html)
AskaNewYorker: Where do you find all of this stuff you sell
here?
Daniel: All of this stuff has been found in countless miles
of driving from various flea markets, from New York to Indiana.
We go through Ohio, Pennsylvania, not too much to New Jersey.
We like rural flea markets, auctions, estate sales, that
kind of thing. We get a lot of things from our friends who
are antique dealers.
Barbara: We’re known for the Hawaiian tiki stuff, we always
have a really good selection.
Daniel: We’re also loaded with vintage post cards, a great
selection of old New York City cards. We collect cards for
ourselves, so there’s always a good supply of chrome cards
from the 60s.
AskaNewYorker: What are your hours?
Daniel: Our hours are pretty much, but not always, 12:00
to 7:00, Tuesday through Saturday. It’s good to call if
you’re going a distance because we might be closed. Our
telephone number is 212-505-2505.
Barbara: Customers usually like our store because they can
find a gift for somebody who likes unusual things, or who
is impossible to buy for. Most of the stuff we have is very
unusual. We have a lot of one-of-a-kind things, so they
can always find something here for that wierd friend that
they can’t find anything for.
Daniel: We have a big following. There’s no advertising,
no sign on the front of the store. People just have to know
we’re here, and they usually come with expectations. Some
people are actually afraid to come because they know if
they do, they’ll spend money!
AskaNewYorker: Tell me about your bracelets.
Daniel: It’s a bracelet I made back in the 70s. It’s actually
silver work. Flying lizards. I cut up an old gold ring and
melted it into beads. This other bracelet I made also. Those
are some rocks from a creek. I’m a rock nut. I’m always
looking for rocks, besides everything else on earth! And
these are like celestial monkeys and there are some moon
and stars there too.
AskaNewYorker (pointing to hat): What do you have here?
Daniel: This is a cruise hat that Barbara picked up at a
flea market. It’s from the 50s. Somebody went on a cruise
and never took off the old tag. Home Line Sun Way Cruises.
I think it’s a great hat.
AskaNewYorker: How about this planter?
Daniel: It’s an interesting planter, definately one-of-a-kind.
I found it in Massachusetts and I had to have it. And it’s
been sitting in front of the store for 2 months. I curse
it every night when I have to put it back in the store.
AskaNewYorker: Tell us more about this great store.
Daniel: Well, you see for yourself, the jewelry is high
quality. We love small objects, and jewelry is the cream-of-the-crop
of all small objects. We’re like crows searching for something
shining and gleaming and which is not expensive! We’re low
end shoppers. Although, maybe not so low end on the bakelite.
AskaNewYorker: Could you tell me about this painting on
the wall?
Daniel: This painting is the hospital that John F. Kennedy
died in. We buy so many amateur paintings. When JFK was
killed, that day or maybe that particular week, people did
a lot of paintings, because they were really effected by
his death. It’s a good painting although it is flaking a
little.
Barbara: Park Lands Memorial Hospital.
