Latest news with #StefanoGiovannini
New York Post
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Hamptons housing crunch forcing even wealthy buyers to settle for less-glamorous LI spot — where sales are surging
The North Fork doesn't want to be the Hamptons 2.0, but the area's record-setting sales say otherwise. The 30-mile-long Long Island peninsula enjoyed another historically high season for home sales last quarter. The North Fork earned a median sale price of $1.09 million between April and June, according to a new report by Miller Samuel for Douglas Elliman. That's a 13% jump from last spring. Advertisement 5 Houses on the waterfront in the North Fork's Cutchogue. Stefano Giovannini 5 The North Fork is increasingly popular as a getaway destination, with some visitors decided to stay. Stefano Giovannini 5 The peninsula spans 30 miles along the eastern end of Long Island. Bf2002/Wikimedia Commons Advertisement This marks the region's third record-high quarter within the last year. Todd Bourgard, Douglas Elliman's CEO of Long Island, Hamptons and North Fork, told The Post that his agents are reporting lightning-fast listings that earn multiple bids on million-dollar price tags. Deep-pocketed buyers are making all-cash offers and agreeing to forgo contingencies, like home inspections. Perhaps it's time for the Surf Lodge to open up a North Fork location. Strong luxury home sales and dwindling inventory in the Hamptons are sending wealthy buyers to North Fork, The Real Deal reported. Advertisement 5 The North Fork offers a slower-paced lifestyle than the Hamptons, but less housing inventory. Stefano Giovannini The local uptick in prices charts with excess demand in the Hamptons, report author Jonathan Miller told the outlet. Would-be Hamptons buyers with money to spend are trading Southampton for Southold and Montauk for Mattituck. But Bourgard said that lifestyles in the two regions remain distinct. Essentially, people who want the North Fork want to live there precisely because it's the North Fork. 'North Fork is now, and always has been, a beautiful place to live,' Bourgard said. 'People are discovering it more and more every single day. We're certainly seeing the prices going up, because, like everywhere else, it lacks inventory.' Advertisement Listing inventory in the North Fork consequently declined 43% from last spring. 5 Homes in the North Fork are getting more expensive and, according to some locals, more Hamptons-like. Izanbar photos – Massive Hamptons-style homes and similarly posh crowds began to overtake the quiet community in the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, locals told The Post in 2022. Thanks to the continued interest of the well-to-do, the North Fork earned its highest ever share of sales above $1 million last quarter.
New York Post
21-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Beloved watch repair-shop owner defies eviction, gentrification: 'I don't want to stop working'
Takes a licking — keeps on ticking. For 42 years, David's Shoe & Watch Repair shop was a staple at the corner of Hudson and Barrow in NYC's West Village — repairing timepieces and mending soles for generations of loyal, local customers. Through it all, proprietor Raphael 'David' Davidson endured. Gentrification, COVID-19, brutal rent hikes — even a move down the block last year into the dry cleaners couldn't stop the faithful watch man from tending to the ever-evolving neighborhood's needs. Advertisement Or, so it seemed. It was 1982 when the Russian-speaking immigrant from Uzbekistan first hung out a shingle at 460 Hudson St. — nearly 40 good years before serious trouble for the family-run spot reared its head in the form of the 2020 pandemic. 19 A customer gives Raphael 'David' Davidson a shoe for repair beside of his car on Sunday afternoon. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 Patrons surround David's makeshift car-trunk workroom on Hudson. Stefano Giovannini for 'For six months I was closed, and I applied for a loan, but I couldn't get any loan because I work alone,' the 80-year-old told The Post. 'Me and my son, we work together for ourselves.' He explained that he applied for the same financial relief that many other businesses did at the time — but that his small size worked against him. With his $4,200 monthly rent due and little money coming in, his bills ballooned to roughly $65,000. The government eventually sent him a paltry $1,500 — all going straight to the landlord. Advertisement 19 David is shown working in his shop in 2008. Michael Sofronski 19 He is now drawing faithful customers to his car, where he keeps some of his tools. Stefano Giovannini for That same landlord tried to evict him just as business was getting back to normal — even taking David to court over the amount of rent owed. A judge ordered payments of $5,000 until the lease ended, back in June 2024 — with no offer to extend. New Yorkers in the close-knit community were saddened and shocked to hear the historic shop was shutting down, and they set up a GoFundMe page and a petition that amassed nearly 300 signatures and over $16,000. Advertisement And for a while, it looked like a victory, albeit a qualified one — with the Acme Cleaners just up the street at 508 Hudson willing to free up a small amount of space to keep neighborhood tradition alive. A great idea — but ultimately impractical, David said. 'All my tools, machinery, everything was in the shop. I couldn't take anything,' he said. 'I just took some of the tools for repair and watches there, but all the machinery that was there for thousands and thousands of dollars, I couldn't take it because I didn't have room.' 19 David toils away in his storefront workshop in 2022. Billy Becerra / NY Post 19 The longtime store was previously located at 460 Hudson. Michael Sofronski 19 David, shown in 2008, has been in the trade for 42 years. Michael Sofronski Then, there was the working environment — a no-go for the aging octogenarian. 'For six months I was working, but they use chemicals over there. I couldn't take it,' David confessed. Advertisement But the dedicated area fixture wasn't about to give up — taking his business fully mobile earlier this year. Now, David can be found at the corner of Hudson and Christopher every Sunday — working from his car. 19 Customers wait in line as David welcomes their business. Stefano Giovannini for 19 Customer Cassandra Bucalo brought several shoes for repair on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 David had a stream of visitors during his four-hour stint. Stefano Giovannini for 19 His weekly visit to the street outside of his former shop brings NYC residents in need of shoe and watch repairs. Stefano Giovannini for There, steps from where he operated all those years, the most loyal locals line up to drop off their afflicted accessories, which David takes to his home-based workshop, returning the items the following week. 'I lost most of my customers, but I have some that have known me for a long time, and they wait for Sunday for me,' he shared. Advertisement 'They come because they know I do a good job and give good prices and provide good service,' David said. 'They've known me for many, many years, so I keep those customers long enough — and they keep me busy also.' David Cohn is just one of the many customers who have come to find the service invaluable — over a period of nearly two decades, he's stopped by for watch repair, shoe repairs, even valuations of his most treasured timepieces. 'He's very trustworthy,' Cohn, also 80, said. 'And his son was also just as gentle as him and just as helpful. 19 David takes a closer look at a watch brought to him on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for Advertisement 19 These are just some of the tools he uses. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David inspects a woman's ring on Sunday. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David shows off a June 2024 blog post about him by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. Stefano Giovannini for 'It's a shame to lose an institution that's been around for as long as his,' he added. 'It's just a shame that the apparatus of the landlord is destroying the mom-and-pop-ness of the community.' On average, David gets about 10 customers over four hours every Sunday — but after a video of him recently went viral on Instagram, his phone started blowing up with messages from potential new customers. 'I think we're going to have some new customers,' he told The Post. 'I'll find out Sunday.' 19 Ashwin Nirantar exchanges money with David for a watch fix. Stefano Giovannini for 19 Nirantar beams with his repaired timepiece. Stefano Giovannini for Once the video started gaining traction, a new GoFundMe was set up — 'for whatever that next chapter becomes,' the fundraising page said. 'We want to make sure he and his wife have the support they need — because for 42 years, David showed up for New York,' organizer Kate DePetro wrote. As of Monday morning, July 21, the GoFundMe has received 2,000 donations and raised just shy of $50,000 toward a $60,000 goal. DePetro revealed that outcome to him on Sunday in a new Instagram post. 'No way,' the surprised senior said. 19 David takes a closer look at a watch in need of work. Stefano Giovannini for 19 David poses with satisfied customers Patrick Fuller and Elena Hanissian. Stefano Giovannini for Even without that boost, David had planned on sticking with the new arrangement for 'as long as [he] can.' 'I don't want to stop working,' David told The Post. 'My Social Security is very little, so it's not enough if I don't work,' he shared. 'My wife and I retired, and all the kids, nobody's home. I don't make much money, but at least I keep this running and keep me busy. I can pay my home rent.' David can be found on the corner of Hudson and Christopher every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
NYC is in its quirky bar era — here are 5 to check out with turtle races, horror-fueled dolls, ‘Moby-Dick' chic and more
New York's nightlife always has flair — but these five boozy, buzzy haunts are taking cool, quirky and strange to new heights. From a Bedford-Stuy dive where turtles race for glory to a Melville-inspired whaling tavern in Fidi where the cocktails are as literary as they are lethal — the city's bar scene is definitely in its weird-girl era. Whether you're craving horror-movie kitsch with a side of vegan haggis or want to shake your own martini under a ceiling full of hot air balloons, these watering holes are pouring personality by the pint. Advertisement Here are five oddball bars shaking up the scene and proving that in NYC, normal's just not on tap. Where every hour is the witching hour 14 Flying Fox Tavern is a horror-lover's fever dream — part haunted house, part comfort-food joint, and fully decked out in blood-red lights, creepy memorabilia and gothic flair. Stefano Giovannini Ridgewood Queen's Flying Fox Tavern is part haunted house, part comfort-food haven — and 100% unforgettable. Advertisement Decked out in gothic chandeliers, spooky memorabilia, and enough red lighting to make Dracula blush, this horror-themed hideaway at 6-78 Woodward Ave. has been a fever dream for fright fans since it opened in 2022. In 2020, Bradbury noticed there weren't any horror-themed bars left in NYC, leaving a void for classic fright lovers. 14 Owner Tracy Bradbury, an avid horror film fan, encourages guests to 'be strange, not a stranger.' Stefano Giovannini 'We wanted to provide a space for us creatures of the night to nerd out over movies and music but also get really good food and drinks,' co-owner Tracy Bradbury, who runs the spot alongside co-owner and chef Chad Johnson, told The Post. Advertisement Guests enter under a neon bat sign and can sit on coffin-shaped picnic tables in the backyard. Inside, it's all gothic chandeliers, eerie ephemera, and monster movie memorabilia. 14 'We wanted to add to Ridgewood's inclusivity and charm and welcome families, neighborhood newcomers as well as a broader audience with an interest in the classic horror and goth genres,' Bradbury told The Post. Stefano Giovannini But it's not all screams and skeletons — the menu leans surprisingly wholesome, with vegan stuffed French toast, an 8-oz Pat LaFrieda burger on a brioche bun, inventive plant-based haggis, and famous vampire-themed cocktails like their 'Christopher Lee' spicy margarita, which is a tribute to the actor's smoldering 1958 take on Dracula. 'We can't tell you how many times we've overheard couples on a first date go through all of the cocktails and discuss their favorite vampires,' Bradbury added. Where cocktails meet the high seas — and Herman Melville Advertisement 14 Quick Eternity, the storm-battered new Seaport bar, is making a splash. It's turning heads while it does. Stefano Giovannini This storm-weathered watering hole in the Seaport is making serious waves. Quick Eternity opened in May at 22 Peck Slip. It channels the salty spirit of an old Cape Cod tavern — minus the whale guts. With cocktails named after 'Moby-Dick' quotes, tin alehorns in place of glasses, and windows that look like they've seen a century of sea spray, the vibe is pure literary seafaring fantasy. Owner Bryan Schneider told The Post that the inspiration for the bar came to him when he got to the third chapter of Herman Melville's 1851 classic called 'The Spouter Inn,' which describes 'an eccentric whaling tavern.' 14 With 'Moby-Dick' cocktails, tin alehorns instead of glasses, and sea-sprayed windows straight out of a sailor's fever dream, this spot's got full-blown nautical nonsense down to a science. Stefano Giovannini To bring the vision to life, he enlisted NYC artist Azikiwe Mohammed for the custom mural and brought in his wife, Rachel — a bookseller — to curate the upstairs book nook stocked with vintage Moby-Dick editions. 'It seems at least once a night we have customers visiting us from all over because of their love of 'Moby-Dick' and Herman Melville,' Schneider told us. 'So far, we've gotten a great response from the neighborhood.' Advertisement 14 The 'Howling Infinite' cocktail packs a punch — a fiery mix of Tequila Ocho, Pimm's, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur and lime, served over crushed ice with a Thai chili kicker. Stefano Giovannini Add in crab fritters, smoked mussels pintxos, and glossy wooden floors slick enough to make Captain Ahab slip — and you've got a perfect pre-dinner port of call or a killer after-work haunt. Top menu picks include the namesake 'Quick Eternity' cocktail — made with Navy-strength gin, passionfruit, Lillet, lemon and absinthe — and the Lobster Pups: skewered tails dipped in corn-dog batter and fried crisp. Where groundbreaking journalism, globetrotting glam and gin collide 14 Miss Nellie's is shaking up Hell's Kitchen — a globe-trotting, plot-twisting speakeasy where every cocktail tells a story. Stefano Giovannini Advertisement Step into Miss Nellie's — a Hell's Kitchen's whimsical new hideaway where cocktails come with a twist — and a plotline. Inspired by globetrotting investigative reporter Nellie Bly, this theatrical bar located at 321 W 44th St. is part speakeasy, part tribute to trailblazing women. 'Miss Nellie's isn't just a bar — it's a narrative,' said general manager Marisa Braat of the establishment that opened in October 2024. 14 Inspired by fearless reporter Nellie Bly, this theatrical hideaway is part bar, part ode to badass women. Stefano Giovannini Advertisement 'Every element, from the décor to the cocktails, is part of a story that celebrates adventure, reinvention, and bold femininity.' The Theater District crowd is here for it. 'Locals have embraced us as a cozy escape in the heart of Hell's Kitchen, and visitors often tell us they feel like they've stumbled upon a hidden gem,' Braat told The Post. Expect suitcase-shaken martinis, smoked Manhattans served in hollowed-out books, and fun cocktails like the 'Fogg & Fancies' that Broadway cast members enjoy sipping on post-show. 14 Bartender Francesco Dionese serves up the bar's beloved Fogg & Fancies cocktail, composed of teeling whiskey, averna amaro, sweet vermouth, maraschino and smoked applewood. Stefano Giovannini Advertisement 'On the food side, our spicy chicken bites and smoked French dip have developed something of a cult following. Guests love that we take comfort food classics and elevate them with unexpected twists,' Braat added. It's a place where dinner is a performance, martinis are participatory, and every drink has a backstory. Nellie would've approved. Where the drinks are cold, the turtles are bold — and the races are real 14 On the first Sunday of every month, the claws come out as crowd faves Ja Rule and Vita — two shell-on speed demons — race for glory in a packed turtle throwdown. @turtlesallthewaydownbk/Instagram At this Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, dive, slow and steady wins the crowd. Turtles All the Way Down opened in 2017 and is a dimly lit neighborhood bar with a not-so-secret weapon: monthly turtle races. On the first Sunday of each month, beloved turtles named Ja Rule and Vita — two hard-shelled speedsters — face off in a fan-favorite showdown that packs the place at 236 Malcolm X Blvd. 'We came up with the idea of the turtle races as a fun thing for us,' Brendan Rodriguez, the bar's events and media manager, bartender and DJ, told The Post. 'We had a turtle tank built in and just did it once a month for the regulars and bar staff — like our little bar pets. Over time, they blew up on social media.' Ja Rule and Vita are cared for by professionals, with regular tank cleanings, flash photography prohibited and one trusted handler who gently preps them for race day. Frozen coffee cocktails, cold beers and a lineup of cheap, simple eats (think cheese sandwiches and hot dogs) keep the party going between races. 14 Since 2017, Turtles All the Way Down has kept locals buzzing with strong drinks, low lights, and its secret sauce: high-stakes turtle races that draw a crowd. @turtlesallthewaydownbk/Instagram Race days come with $10–11 beer-and-shot specials, DJ sets from DJ Lean (Rodriguez), and rotating food pop-ups serving everything from wings to tamales — all air-fried and food-handler certified. There's shuffleboard in the back, DJs on Wednesdays and Fridays and a crowd that comes as much for the vibe as for the reptilian drama. Where every hour is golden hour on deck 14 Anchored just steps from the Hudson Yards Vessel, Sailor's Choice lets you sip cocktails dockside-style — with server Jesse Sullivan serving drinks beside a vintage Hinckley boat parked in the middle of the breezy, nautical-themed patio. Stefano Giovannini Sailor's Choice is the kind of port you won't mind getting shipwrecked in. Located at 350 11th Ave, steps away from the Hudson Yards Vessel, you can sip beer while admiring a vintage Hinckley boat in the center of the outdoor layout, while enjoying the nautical theme. The centerpiece of Sailor's Choice — owned by brothers Miles and Alex Pincus — is a tricked-out retro fishing boat turned full-blown bar, docked on a sun-drenched deck dotted with lemon-striped umbrellas. 'I've been into boats since I was 10 years old,' Alex Pincus told The Post, so it's only fitting that he and his brother opened this sea-inspired bar. 14 The crown jewel of Sailor's Choice — the latest splash from brothers Miles and Alex Pincus — is a souped-up vintage fishing boat turned boozy centerpiece, anchored on a sunny deck lined with lemon-striped umbrellas. Stefano Giovannini It's part gentleman's yacht, part Maine lobster boat — and all vibes. The duo pitched a 'boat bar on land' as a playful counterpoint to Hudson Yards' slick surroundings — and surprisingly, they bit. An additional bar, nestled inside a revamped Airstream trailer, just a few feet away from the Hinckley vessel, serves up spritzes and laid-back cocktails perfect for sipping in the sun. This dockside spot dishes out lobster BLTs, crisp fish and chips, oysters by the dozen and more. 'The lobster BLT is a real go-to. Everybody loves that,' Alex Pincus told The Post. 14 Just steps from the Hinckley vessel, a tricked-out Airstream trailer moonlights as a second bar, slinging spritzes and easy-drinking cocktails made for sunny-day lounging. Stefano Giovannini Expect coastal faves with polish, and a crab dip Pincus calls a 'sleeper hit.' Drinks, on the other hand, lean breezy and boozy, from martinis to watermelon-vodka spritzes.
New York Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NYC's former New York Stock Exchange swept up in burgeoning office-to-residential trend — with 382 luxe units to come
One of Wall Street's former hubs is trading finance employees for residents. GFP Real Estate has filed plans to convert 40 Exchange Place — a 20-story, 240,000-square-foot office tower in Manhattan's Financial District — into a mixed-use development with 382 residential units and ground-floor retail, according to the Commercial Observer. The project adds to a growing list of office-to-residential conversions sweeping the neighborhood, as aging commercial buildings grapple with high vacancy rates in the wake of COVID and shifting demand. Advertisement 5 The former home of the New York Stock Exchange at 40 Exchange Place in Manhattan's Financial District is set to become a 382-unit residential and retail development, marking another major office-to-residential conversion in the area. GFP Real Estate 5 The New York Stock Exchange was located in this edifice in the 19th century. Getty Images Originally designed in 1893 by architect John Townsend Williams, the building was once home to the New York Stock Exchange in the mid-19th century, between 1856 to 1865. Advertisement More recently, it has served as traditional office space, with some tenants — such as A360 Media — signing short-term or modest long-term leases. GFP acquired the property in 2015 alongside Northwind Group for $115 million and invested $20 million in renovations before Northwind exited the partnership in 2018. Yet Northwind maintained financial ties to the property, issuing a $50 million mortgage to GFP in early 2024. 5 GFP Real Estate filed plans this week for the 20-story building, following its earlier $288 million loan for a similar project at 222 Broadway. GFP Real Estate This isn't GFP's first foray into adaptive reuse. The firm partnered with Metro Loft and Rockwood Capital to redevelop 25 Water St. into a 1,320-unit residential complex — currently the largest office-to-apartment conversion in the country. Advertisement Its latest project at 40 Exchange Place follows a $288 million loan secured in January to redevelop 222 Broadway. The Financial District has emerged as a hot bed for New York's office conversion trend, driven in part by the city's 467-m tax abatement program. The initiative offers developers a 35-year tax break if at least 25% of the new units are designated as affordable housing. 5 GFP and Northwind Group acquired the building for $115 million in 2015, with GFP later taking full control. Google Maps 5 25 Water St. before and after the conversion. Stefano Giovannini/Streetsense Advertisement Nearby, developers have transformed several high-profile properties, including 55 Broad St., the former Goldman Sachs headquarters, now home to 571 apartments and 25,000 square feet of amenities. Other recent conversions include 77 Water St., 160 Water St., 111 Wall St. and One Wall. GFP did not return The Post's request for comment on the plans for 40 Exchange Place by press time. The current occupancy status remains in flux, as many leases are short-term and no formal timeline has been announced for vacating the offices.
New York Post
02-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Rush to trade gold for dollars sparks cash shortages in NYC's Diamond District
As gold prices hit all-time highs, owners of vintage baubles and family heirlooms are scrambling to trade them for dollars — and the frenzy has sparked a cash shortage across New York City's Diamond District, The Post has learned. Last week at Bullion Exchanges — a storefront at 30 W. 47th St. in Midtown Manhattan that displays assorted gold coins and jewelry behind thick plexiglass — a handful of customers had been buzzed inside while others waited on the busy sidewalk. At the counter, a young woman shoved a fistful of gold trinkets under the bank-teller style window. Ten minutes later, she left with a check for $3,330. Advertisement 'This is a new experience for me,' the woman told The Post, declining to give her name as she edged out the door. 5 Alon Mirzaev of US Gold Refinery holds a container full of gold jewelry he bought in one day. Stefano Giovannini Business is 'going gangbusters' since gold surpassed $3,000 per ounce in March, according Bullion Exchanges CEO Ben Tseytlin. By April, it climbed to $3,500 over President Trump's tariffs and his pressure campaign on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to slash interest rates. Advertisement Gold was recently trading at $3,334 an ounce. Silver has surged to a 13-year high of $35 per ounce. Accordingly, many customers on West 47th Street are looking to sell stuff that's made of gold instead of buy it. As a result, retailers claim cash is in short supply because of bank credit limits. Most customers are paid with checks and wire transfers. 'This is a seller-heavy market,' Tseytlin told The Post. 'We don't give cash for anything over $2,500.' Even used Rolex watches are trading at a premium when they're made of gold — even though nobody would ever buy a Rolex to melt it down, said Paul Altieri, chief executive of Bob's Watches, one of the US's largest purveyors of pre-owned timepieces. Advertisement 5 The Diamond District on W. 47th St. is buzzing with customers eager to cash in on the high price of gold and silver. Stefano Giovannini 'Lately we've seen more people bringing in solid-gold models like the Rolex Day-Date gold Submariners and Yacht-Masters, which contain substantial gold weight,' he said. The Submariner can fetch from $25,000 to more than $40,000 these days, with the price of gold 'strengthening those upper ends,' Altieri said. New York's so-called 'precious metals dealers' are licensed by the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to both buy and sell to retail customers. They also can operate special ovens that melt down gold, silver and platinum into tradable bars at 1,000-plus-degree temperatures. Advertisement The Diamond District — mainly the block of West 47th Street that stretches between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue — is one of the last holdouts of 'Old New York,' with street urchins waving passersby inside buildings that house warrens of kiosks operated by jewelers, some with magnifying loops strapped across their foreheads. 5 Gold reached a record price of $3,500 per ounce in April. Stefano Giovannini Efraim Ilyayev and his father run City Gold Jeweler at 20 W. 47th St. Their stall is overflowing with silver menorahs, candlestick holders, flatware and random Judaica purchased from customers — and which are due to be melted down. 'We run out of cash all the time, which leads to unhappy customers' Ilyayev said. 'We have been getting about the same amount of cash that we have always received even though our need has increased.' Cash on hand can mean the difference between clinching a sale or watching a client wander over to the next jeweler. Some vendors who are licensed to buy so-called 'scrap' are running out before the day is over. 'Banks don't want us to have a bunch of cash lying around,' said another jeweler, referring to the Brinks and Loomis trucks that deliver cash at least once a week. 5 Most purveyors in the Diamond District will pay cash for items worth less than $2,500. Bullion Exchanges / X Advertisement Jewelers says they also must grapple with customer expectations that aren't always realistic. Alon Mirzaev of US Gold Refinery, which operates a counter at 78 W. 47th St., recently met with a customer who presented a pair of gold rings 'that had never been worn' and were still in their box. Mirzaev put them into metal analyzer machine that indicated they were 18 karat. Mirzaev offered $500 after his initial bid of $470 was rejected. The customer wanted $750, and left in a huff — declining to be interviewed by The Post. Meanwhile, most jewelers aren't licensed to buy goods from the public – and many are feeling the sting. Advertisement 'In general, the high price of gold works against the business because it's harder to sell' finished jewelry, said Curtis Lewis, a jeweler from Dutchess County in upstate New York who also recently brought a briefcase full of goods to West 47th Street. 'We work on close margins.' 5 Business is soft for traditional jewelers who mostly sell rather than purchase jewelry from consumers. Stefano Giovannini Danny Bor of Mr. Jeweler, which has a counter at 23 W. 47th St., agreed it's 'a slower time for selling jewelry,' because people don't want to pay extra for gold. A longtime customer recently asked him to buy her gold-and-diamond tennis bracelet, but she thought the diamonds were worth more than he did. Bor — partly because she was a good client, and partly because of the value of the gold — agreed to painstakingly remove the tiny studs so she could sell them to another jeweler. Advertisement On occasions when customers are looking to buy gold rather than sell it, it's often not jewelry that interests them. Tysetlin's cllients last week included a 72-year-old retiree from Connecticut named Roger, who walked out with $6,000 worth of gold and silver coins inside a flannel, drawstring bag. The last time he'd purchased coins in the Diamond District was during the 1982 recession, he said. 'This is my precautionary hoarding' amid an uncertain economy, he told The Post, adding that he was looking to diversify his portfolio with a more 'stable' investment. 'Coins are a good bet.' Explore Top Gold IRAs American Hartford Gold American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that specializes in gold and silver for physical delivery and retirement accounts. With a reputation for clear pricing and personalized service, it offers tailored solutions, secure storage, and a price match guarantee, helping investors hedge against inflation and uncertainty. learn more Goldco Goldco is a leading provider of gold and silver IRAs, helping investors protect and grow their retirement savings with precious metals. With a strong reputation for client satisfaction, GoldCo makes it simple to diversify your portfolio with physical gold, offering personalized consultations, secure vaulting, and tax-advantaged strategies. learn more Patriot Gold Patriot Gold is a top-rated Gold IRA provider known for its No Fee for Life IRA program and endorsements from prominent conservative figures and organizations. 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