The legendary New York City punk rock club CBGB's, famous for birthing the punk movement in the late '70s, will soon be reborn as a men's designer clothing boutique.
Men's fashion designer John Varvatos, who has taken over the lease for the storefront on the Bowery in Manhattan's lower east side, plans to open the boutique in December. He is looking to designate a space for occasional live music performances in the "spirit" of CBGB. Since he does not have rights to the brand name, no CBGB's clothing or memorabilia will be sold. The official CBGB Fashions moved from the location at 315 Bowery to St. Mark's Place in the citys East Village after the club's last show in October 2006.
CBGB's owner Hilly Kristal first opened the club in 1973, intending it to be a Country music venue (hence the name Country, Blue Grass, and Blues). However, CBGB became the mecca for the New York City punk and punk-influenced bands like Ramones, Television, the Patti Smith Group, the Dead Boys, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Blondie, and Talking Heads.
Varvatos said he will design special clothing to match the area's gritty past. "You are definitely not going to find a pink linen shirt in this store," he told amny.com. "All the clothes will have a decidedly rock'n'roll edge." Ahem.
Dead Boys live at CBGB's in 1977
Men's fashion designer John Varvatos, who has taken over the lease for the storefront on the Bowery in Manhattan's lower east side, plans to open the boutique in December. He is looking to designate a space for occasional live music performances in the "spirit" of CBGB. Since he does not have rights to the brand name, no CBGB's clothing or memorabilia will be sold. The official CBGB Fashions moved from the location at 315 Bowery to St. Mark's Place in the citys East Village after the club's last show in October 2006.
CBGB's owner Hilly Kristal first opened the club in 1973, intending it to be a Country music venue (hence the name Country, Blue Grass, and Blues). However, CBGB became the mecca for the New York City punk and punk-influenced bands like Ramones, Television, the Patti Smith Group, the Dead Boys, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Blondie, and Talking Heads.
Varvatos said he will design special clothing to match the area's gritty past. "You are definitely not going to find a pink linen shirt in this store," he told amny.com. "All the clothes will have a decidedly rock'n'roll edge." Ahem.
Dead Boys live at CBGB's in 1977
