When I walked into The Workshop, thinking that I would find another upmarket New York jeweler, I quickly realized that it was a kind of store I had never seen before. The Workshop sells body jewelry, but unlike many body jewelry stores, the pieces on sale are high quality and often made from precious metals and stones.
When I engaged George and Shah in conversation, - the partners who had opened the store in April 2015 - they told me that they specialize in a different sort of clientele than most body jewelry stores. As Shah said, “We are not on St. Marks.” The two men are familiar with the businesses on St. Marks, since they worked together at Jewels 32 for a year and a half prior to opening their own store. Whereas George has always been interested in piercings and different kinds of metals, Shah fell into the business through a friend. Despite their different paths, the two men appear to now share an equal passion for their craft.
George and Shah recognized the "great vibe" of the East Village and made the decision to look on 9th Street, with its hamlet of excellent small businesses and friendly characters. They knew it would be a welcoming environment and they said it already feels like the perfect fit. The two men told me that their goal is to share their passion and their knowledge with the neighborhood, and to provide a service – an upscale body jewelry boutique – that the surrounding area has yet to experience.