Set in Greenwich Village, C.O. Bigelow is America’s oldest apothecary. It was based in 1838, so Carolyn isn’t the one well-known face to have shopped right here over time. Thomas Edison reportedly used their selfmade soothing balm after burning his fingers in an early lightbulb experiment, whereas Eleanor Roosevelt was an everyday person of toiletries. It’s now run by a fourth-generation member of the family, and the crew nonetheless leaf by way of handwritten notebooks for inspiration from authentic formulation.
On my first day within the metropolis, I set off: subway to 14th Street – sixth Avenue, then alongside the sting of the West Village with its lovely shops, cafés, and impossibly well-dressed individuals. C.O. Bigelow occupies a dream of a location with Carrie Bradshaw’s Perry Street condominium lower than 10 minutes away, and the likes of Magnolia Bakery, espresso spot Do Not Feed The Alligators, Doen, and Ganni all close by.
Just as I’d imagined, the facade has an old-world design with twirling fonts scrawled throughout the home windows and ornate signage. Inside, creamy tiles lie underfoot with wood cabinets and furnishings lining the house, as chandeliers swing overhead. It’s like stepping again in time.
Hand creams, body washes, cleansers, lotions, shave creams; all of it is available in apothecary-style, amber-tinted jars with almost-faded labels. It can be gimmicky if this weren’t the true deal. Over the years, sure merchandise have turn into synonymous with the model, corresponding to their lip salves, which are available in an array of flavors like rose, lavender, and apple. Across the counters, large bowls are crammed with these pastel-colored tins and clients seize them like sweets at a nook store.
It solely takes a second to notice: phrase is out. The complete retailer is crammed with excitable Bessette Kennedy devotees. Yes, the cabinets of soaps, hair brushes, and perfumes are busy, nevertheless it’s the hair equipment part that could possibly be in contrast to a mosh pit with youngsters preventing ladies of their 30s (me!) for a chunk of Bessette Kennedy’s aesthetic. Nervously, I method: There are rows of crocodile clips and slides, too, which additionally get a good bit of consideration, whereas I wait my flip to take a look at the headbands.