Geminola to officially close this spring

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Mar 24, 2016

New York City vintage store, Geminola announced earlier this year that it would shutter its doors after 12 years in business, and on Thursday the West Village fixture announced that it will officially close by the end of May.

 
The small shop on 41 Perry Street has sold reconstructed vintage clothing, home goods and accessories for over a decade. Geminola founder, Lorraine Kirke told the American press, "I just decided it was time to move on, the West Village is now just a completely different vibe. There's just us [left] and the Perry Street Alcoholics Anonymous meeting... It used to be a village and I don't think the West Village is a village now — it's a place for billionaires.”
 
Like many West Village and Lower Manhattan shops, Geminola gained popularity from Sex in the City. Sarah Jessica Parker, who frequently shopped at the store, wore a dress from Geminola in the show's series finale.

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Kirke’s daughters, Jemima and Lola, also wore Geminola dresses on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards, at various events like the Cannes Film Festival and on the HBO show, Girls. Jemima wore a wedding gown from Geminola in the season one finale of Girls, and the show's creator, Lena Dunham, worked at the store during her college years. 

The name Geminola is an amalgamation of Kirke’s daughters’ names, Jemima, Domino and Lola. Many celebrities have frequented the store over the years including Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman and Courtney Love, and models Daisy Lowe and Kemp Muhl have mentioned the store in interviews.
 
Kirke has expressed subletting the space for the remainder of her lease. “Can’t imagine why some young girl wouldn’t want to come in and continue it — I’d love for someone creative to come in and take it over and keep it going.”
 
The store is undergoing a closing sale with markdowns as low as 50% off.