Neighborhood Weirdness

Astro-turf, the nifty little Smith Street antique shop that specializes in kitschy '50s and early '60s stuff, has been closed for half a year with no sign of reopening. The shop shut down to execute some brick-work repair, to judge by the DOB records. I assumed the owners ran into trouble with the authorities somewhere and that's why the door remained shut.

I learned otherwise recently. A local shopkeeper who does business across the street told me the elderly lady who owns Astro-turf finished work on the place long ago, but has chosen to let it lay dormant. That the hipster shop was owned by an older woman came as a surprise in itself. I always thought the young women who worked inside owned it. Turns out they were only employees and have been allowed to go their own way in the months Astro-turf has been shuttered.

At least this is the story that I was handed, and the guy seemed to know his stuff. In the meantime, where am I supposed to get my retro cocktail shakers?