post from the Blisscent mailing list:

November 2nd 2003

I regretfully announce the closing of my store, See Hear. The fallout of an ill-fated business expansion onto St. Marks Place in the 1990s coupled with the economic fallout of 9-11 has made it next to impossible to run a viable small-bookstore business.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the customers of See Hear, and the supporters of fringe publications, who've come into the shop or done business with the store via the internet over the years.

Unfortunately the closing of See Hear means that many zine makers and distributors will not see the money See Hear owes them any time soon. I can't tell you how sorry I am about this. But I stand ready and intend to make good on these debts if at all humanly possible once I get back on my feet.

Speaking of, I'm looking for a job. If you know of a job or a lead, especially regarding a position requiring retail managerial expertise, I would very much appreciate hearing about it.

You'll be able to stay in touch with me at this email address.

Thank you, all.

Ted R. Gottfried

seehearfan@aol.com

PS: If having to close the store and look for a job isn't bad enough, my computer just died. If you have a "last year's model" that is collecting dust and you would like to sell cheap, give me a holler.

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see hear being one of the only places i knew of in nyc to buy below the radar pubs, one off vanity projects and other bizarre bits of fringe culture, the store formed part of the imaginary map of cool that made the city great for me. it's as sad as the closing of coney island high or the gap-ification of st. marks.