Precious Pearl Paint locations rumored to close its doors

It turns out that one of the world's largest art suppliers is closing its doors here in our lovely artsy farsty City of New York. As of last weekend, rumor has it that one of the three Manhattan Pearl Paint stores has been closed down for good.

Pearl Paint's frame shop on Lispenard St. has permanently transferred all of their stock over to their Canal St. location. The art supplier chain has been shutting down all of its stores around the country since last month. Two stores that were located in Long Island, NY in the towns of Selden and Woodbury were shut down as well.

All of the smaller chains, like those located in Maryland, Georgia and many other states were closed down simply due to the lack of customer purchases in suburban areas.

During the close-out of these stores, the price of every item, no matter how expensive or cheap it was, dropped down to 75 percent off. For most artists it was the best thing in the world, but at the same time, the worst.

Whatever items that have not finally sold off were shipped off to the bigger chains, such as the ones in New York City and Los Angeles, where young thriving artists are sticking it out. Hopefully, these stores will continue to remain open for the time being.

Many students and big time artists fear that the drastic loss of business in such a short span of time might begin to affect the other Pearl sister store on Canal St.

"I go to Pearl all the time. I love it there. I really hope it doesn't close. The one on Canal Street is like a New York Institution," senior Alexandra Gauss said. "The merchandise is cheap. They have everything I ever need. It would be a huge inconvenience for me if they close. I'll have nowhere else to go. I can spend all day there."

The first Pearl Paint store was built during the Great Depression in 1933 in New York City. It would be a big loss to see it vanish away.

"It's a shame, because it's a good resource for us since it's so close to the campus," sculptor and Pace University Professor Charlotte Becket stated.

Many famous artists during that time period —and even now, according to the stores web site, Pearlpaint.com, — have come to and from our city streets to visit the store's five-story building that is overflowing with the finest artist's materials from around the world.

The place has become a landmark for the Downtown area.

Senior Stephany Cardet, who has been going to the shops over the years while attending the University explained, "It's really sad that one of the Pearl Paints closed. The people that work there are knowledgeable about the materials and mediums."

"The closing of Pearl Paint is inevitable. I just feel bad for the older people, they don't know anything else besides this place," one employee from the famous red and white Pearl Paint building on Canal St. claimed.

Inevitable is the perfect word. The Internet seems to have taken a toll, with the latest dispense of getting anything you could possibly want delivered right to your door for even cheaper than its regular price.

Although the shock doesn't seem to be hitting us yet, the art scene may soon start to crumble, first with its disintegrating art shops.

Self-owned stores are definitely doing financially better than companies. Most self-proclaimed artists enjoy the boutiques more, but as the prices continue to get higher and the demand lower, those little shops full of color and life won't last for long.

If for some unfortunate event our precious Pearl Paint on Canal St. does go under, there is always the store's web site you can browse through, but we know nothing is the same as touching and seeing the items for yourself.