Mr. Throwback
M-Sa 12pm-8pm; Su 12pm-6pm
“I feel like I am twelve again and in my childhood bedroom,” is how Mike Spitz describes coming into work everyday. He might be the most enthusiastic owner of a small side street business that I have encountered, thus far. I love to hear stories of how people have been able to successfully follow their dreams. Mike grew up saving and collecting his favorite toys, sports paraphernalia, videos and video games. While others were playing outdoors, he was busy online scouting prices and looking to buy and sell from customers. During college he continued to indulge in his passion, but once out, took a job in accounting. As he remarked, “that didn’t last long…my heart wasn’t in it.” Instead, he gathered his collection and stood outdoors first at the Hell’s Kitchen flea market and then Dekalb Market in Brooklyn. At the age of thirty, Mike finally decided it was time to open his own shop on 9th Street. And what a store it is. There is vintage clothing hanging on the bars for men, women and children with an emphasis on jerseys, but also concert tees, Cosby sweaters, denim, sneakers and baseball caps. The shelves are lined with items primarily from the 80’s and 90’s, including Ninjas, trolls, Power Rangers, and He-Man alongside Starting Line Up, WWF, and other sport figurines. Everywhere I turned, I saw something else that had been in my son’s bedroom while he was growing up….and I saved it all…and Mike would like to get his hands on it…but that is up to my son.
