Nancy Nancy — Fifth Avenue’s favorite novelty shop — is the latest casualty of over-the-top real-estate prices in Park Slope.
“The landlord did not renew the lease because he’s selling the building,” said Nancy Sorkow, who opened the store, between President and Carroll streets, 10 years ago. “He’s also doubling the rent.”
So, come May, Slopers will have to go elsewhere for their Axis of Evil finger puppets, their cat-butt magnets and their Jesus dolls (“With gliding action!”).
The closure of Nancy Nancy is the latest in a series of changes on Fifth Avenue, which was “pretty run down and deserted” when Sorkow opened shop, she said.
“Gentrification happened, and the landlords want to keep up I guess,” she said.
Commercial rents on the suddenly upscale avenue average close to $3,000–$4,000 a month — and experts said that they’re 50 to 100 percent higher than just five years ago.
As a result, the bell has also tolled for Biscuit BBQ, ROMP, Cocotte, Beso, Hollywood Video and even the Donut Cafe.
“Let’s hope that the vacant spaces are filled with new banks!” quipped a person calling himself “Raw” on the message board, brooklynian.com. “We need 24-7 access to more ATM machines with homeless people standing in front of them.”
Sorkow said she plans to continue selling penis-shaped peppermints and other goodies via her Web site, www.nancynancy.com.
