Volume 78 / Number 1 - June 4 - 10, 2008
West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933

Villager photo by Maggie Koopmans

With some help from his loyal customers, Bill Johnson was able to find a new home for his beloved Cheap Charlie’s store. As The Villager previously reported, a rent increase, two months ago, forced Johnson out of his storefront space on 14th St. between Avenues A and B, where his business had been a fixture for 41 years. His new store, The New Charlie’s Inc., about 500 square feet, is on Avenue C between 10th and 11th Sts. The grand opening was two weeks ago. “I have your paper to thank,” Johnson told The Villager last week. “Everyone who read the article helped us look for the space.” Johnson said that in the new space, which is one-third smaller, he’s concentrating on selling “books for the neighborhood” — such as school textbooks for subjects like math, books on carpentry, “how to make things,” and “a lot of books on American history, on the presidents.” All his books are 75 percent off retail. He also has greeting cards, but has dropped dishes.