- Trash and Vaudeville, opened in 1975, is a legendary punk rock shop famous for selling, “Rock and Roll You Can Wear.”
- From boots to band shirts to leather jackets and jewelry, Trash and Vaudeville is one of the last bastions of edge in an ever-gentrifying East Village and a must-stop for any punk or rock fan.
- The store’s original location was 4 St. Mark’s Place, but because of steep rent hikes, it moved to 96 East 7th Street in March 2016.
- Founder Ray Goodman, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, opened Trash and Vaudeville with $1,000 he borrowed from his parents. He says the inspiration for the store’s name came from a frequent comment about his fashion choices: “What’s that trash you’re wearing?”
- The store came to fame in the late ’70s as the first store to carry a selection of black skinny jeans at a time when most stores were selling blue. However, an even bigger draw was Trash and Vaudeville being the first store in the US to sell the famous Dr. “Doc” Martens boots.
- Famous musicians who frequented the store over the years include the Ramones, The Clash, Iggy Pop, Bruce Springsteen, Blondie, and Prince.
- According to longtime employee and store manager Jimmy Webb, Debbie Harry of Blondie would “buy clothes by the pound.” According to Goodman, Prince would come in, not talk, and just point at what he wanted. More recently, the store outfitted Lady Gaga and all of her backup dancers.
