Happy birthday NYC ❤️!
Four centuries of New York City! WOAH! That’s a lot of history. I wonder if the founders of NYC knew their work would stand the test of time?
Because the truth is, this founder had no idea that a simple New York City skyline pattern on plates and cups and celery dishes would stick around for four decades, and have a resilient history of its own, and will be forever linked with 9/11.
-- Proceeds of this limited edition mug went to the New York Port Authority police department --
Walking up to the store the morning after 9/11, I was totally shocked to see customers waiting outside Fishs Eddy. The city was a blur of sirens and smoke. We only opened our doors to offer a bathroom, a chair, or a hug for people (like me 😔) who needed it.
Yet customers were waiting for us to open the doors—to get our skyline pattern! They just wanted to own a piece of New York City history.
We lived way downtown at the time, just a stone’s throw from the Trade Centers, so I had so much to deal with personally - I wasn’t even thinking about the fact that the World Trade Centers were memorialized in that pattern!
So basically our skyline pattern saved Fishs Eddy after 9/11, when so many other small businesses closed their doors for good :(
That HAS to be one of the great ironies in the history of retail. I get choked up every time I tell it.
-- Phillippe Petit made his famous tightrope walk between the Twin Towers on August 7, 1974 --
Now for a funny story!
Did you know the NY Port Authority actually sued us for infringing on their intellectual property and hurting their reputation? AHAHA yes you heard that right! The Port Authority’s reputation!! I was there last week and came out with a rash of some sort!
The best way to hear this story is to go to YouTube and look up: John Oliver/ Port Authority.
You’re probably wondering what John Oliver had to do with this lawsuit 🤔.
We knew we could never afford to fight the Port Authority, so we did what any reasonable small business would do. We went to every possible late night show with a skyline plate and a copy of the scary lawsuit letter! - because the whole idea of this lawsuit was hysterical and ridiculous!
And then one night my son Ben came running into the room screaming that we were on the John Oliver show!
John Oliver did an entire segment on how the Port Authority should really look in the mirror before they pick on a small business (especially when the founder has lady balls!).
Dear Fishs Eddy,
Please stop the self-serving publicity and we will drop the case.
—said big scary law firm
Dear big scary law firm,
Will do, and thank you for putting our skyline pattern on the map!
—said me
PS we would like to offer 20% off this pattern to all Port Authority employees!
All this was a reminder of the staying power that our skyline dishes truly have. Just like NYC. Full of character, tough-as-nails, and iconic!
-- Skyline tablecloth turned into skirt --
Happy birthday NYC ❤️!