On Monday, July 25th, the Rag noticed that someone had modified the Banksy graffiti of a boy swinging a hammer on West 79th Street and Broadway, but not in the way a vandal typically leaves their mark.
The signs accompanying the Banksy graffiti were altered by someone claiming that Zabar’s was not properly maintaining the art. A piece of paper reading “Andrew Janoff” was taped over the word “Zabar’s” on the banner above it.
Zabar’s takes responsibility for the image because it exists on the wall of a building owned by the Zabar family.
The iconic appetizing store, on 80th and Broadway, put plexiglass over the image to preserve it just a few hours after it was created in 2013, General Manager Scott Goldshine told the Rag, in a telephone interview.
On July 27th, Andrew made another change. A note to the community was taped to the side of the piece, reading, “Hello UWS friends, Please know Zabar’s has refused repeated requests to help clean and protect this Banksy. I bought my own cleaning supplies. Let’s keep it fresh. Thanks! – Your neighbor Andrew”.
When the Rag asked several businesses on the block, including Sam who runs the Halal cart on the corner of 79th and Broadway six days a week, not one person had seen the man who put his name on the piece. One employee at the 79th Street Pharmacy speculated that Andrew came late at night.
When the Rag asked Goldshine about the Bansky, it was the first time he had heard that someone had defaced it. It has been vandalized a few times before, he said, and, each time, Zabar’s has cleaned it.
Despite Andrew’s claim that he had made “repeated requests” for the Banksy to be cleaned, Goldshine said he has received no recent complaints about the state of the Banksy, which Zabar’s usually cleans about every six months. “If it needs to be cleaned, we’ll clean it, which is what we normally do,” he said. “We always look into every single complaint we get.”
The elusive British artist — and, technically, vandal by New York City authority standards — Banksy painted this piece in October 2013 while he was on a month-long residency in the city. He created at least one work a day in his project titled, “Better Out Than In,” careful not to be seen by anyone.
Tony, who works next door at the Dublin House, remembers when Banksy drew the art. He completed his drawing after Tony left work that night, so he figured it must have been done between the hours of 4 to 6 AM.
People were initially upset about the installation of the plexiglass, Goldshine said, but then became appreciative of it. It has become especially important, he said, since most other pieces from Banksy’s NYC residency have been destroyed, mostly vandalized by other graffiti artists, or painted over by building owners.
Just minutes after Zabar’s learned from The Rag about Andrew’s alterations, Goldshine and a maintenance worker visited the site to remove them. Because of tape damage, Zabar’s will have to replace the plexiglass, Goldshine said.
He has no message for Andrew, except to say that Zabar’s is happy to be a neighbor in the community and to protect the Banksy.
Very detailed article. Banksy’s art should definitely be well-kept so I appreciate Andrew’s sentiment. I’d love to see more reporting in this style and articles from this author.
Zabar’s has always been attentive to the best parts of the West Side. Good folks.
This Banksy is emblematic of the New York work ethic
II’m sure the artist would be amused that his graffiti had been defaced or painted over. From what I have seen his work at least has a sense of humor. Most Tags just deface there target.
Going to be interesting about what happens to the Banksy when or if the highly desirable corner empty property is sold or developed. New buildings spreading like Banksys around the neighborhood, two of them check by jowl with the art work.
Which prompts the question of what threat nearby First Baptist Church is facing from avaricious developers like that trying to obliterate landmarked Park West Presbyterian Church with a bland high-rise of the size and demeanor of the four surrounding Zabar’s.
Landmarks Preservation Commission is all too poised to oblige deep-pocketed developers currying favor with the Mayor and Governor. A call for more arms to Banksy could be beneficial for saving the neighborhood.
Always interesting to read anti-development comments like these in a city where a lack of units is driving up overall housing costs. I suppose if some had their way, there would be zero new construction and every existing unit would be rent controlled in which case there would no longer be a financial incentive to keep anything in repair. Personally, I find nothing wrong with adding many more units even if they are expensive. With more units comes more overall housing stock which drives down housing costs of pre-existing units without the need for rent controls. We cannot keep the West Side under amber.
Development of this site is unlikely for some time to come. Saul Zabar told me years ago that he had already been offered over $100 million to develop it, and he refused. He believes in protecting the neighborhood in which he lives and works. (It is also why the building in which Barnes & Noble sits – also owned by the Zabars – has never been developed, despite offers to do so.)
In fact, Saul and his family are so intent on maintaining the neighborhood that there was a huge fight when his son-in-law, who co-owned the property next door (the one that used to be Circuit City) fought the Zabars to develop that site. And we ended up with another bland building with overpriced units and empty storefronts.
As an aside, if the old DSW site IS ever developed, the developer could build an as-of-right 50-story building – though they would have to get a variance from the BSA for building higher than the “permitted Broadway frontage.” But given the power of the real estate industry, we can be fairly certain that would happen. (And if they get further variances for “set-backs” and the like, the building could be even higher – possibly 60 stories or more!).
They used to say the same about the SW corner of 80th and B’way (Verizon and NY Sports Club Bldg. – aka 246 West 80th). Zabars owns both 246 and 250 West 80th. They are already transitioning and relocating their on-line ordering department from Bldg. 250 over to the top floors of their main store. Plan is to eventually deconstruct and redevelop Bldg. 250 and the SW corner of 80th. Similar to what they did at the SE corner of 80th and B’way. For those who remember , , , site of Food City/Circuit City/ Fayva/Zales and the Rug Warehouse.
Okay if your know that much who was the manager of Food City…he was the best.
I remember we did not have ATMs back then and I will forget to go to the bank so I would go to Food City to cash a check so I can go out and have a few drinks over the weekend.
And also remember Circuit City real well it was our technology store, the best on the UWS and friendly. It was better than going to Crazy Eddie’s!!!!!
So name the manager at Food City the most friendliest person you wanna know and he knew all the neighbors. ________________________?
Saw Andrew’s “markings” a few days ago, thanks for covering this!
Maybe the church could become a Zabar’s?? I’m joking but also…maybe?
I wish someone had put up plexiglass to protect the Banksy that showed up in NoMad/Flatiron, during that month. It lasted less than 24 hours before it was defaced.
This building looks like it’s headed for the wrecking ball?
It is. In the next six months.
Zabar’s sold that a few years ago…
They also sold from Broadway W. 79th St. To West 80 Street (after the church) to the Verizon store… That whole stretch on the west side of Broadway will be residential high rises.
What are you gonna do when they tear down the building in about six months there’s a high-rise going in here identical to the one on 80th and Broadway
Public Art will reflect and be subject the environment it’s in .