Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, New York – photos and memories

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

Situated on New York’s almost-completely gentrified Lower East Side at 152 Ludlow Street is the Cake Shop, a small cafe/music venue where we’ve spent many hours, scoffing bagels, surfing the web, supping coffees or grabbing a beer.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

Slightly reminiscent of the wonderfully shambolic 12 Bar in Denmark Street Soho, London, the upstairs room is a long and narrow affair, with the cafe counter nearest the door.

There used to be a great record store in the back, but that got smaller and smaller over the years until it finally shifted to a tiny space next to the door.

Now it’s less of a record store as a few magazine racks on the wall with some vinyl records stuffed in them, another victim of the digital age.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

One of the precious few remaining venues on the Lower East Side that hasn’t been completely taken over by hipster and ‘young professionals,’  it’s a great place to grab a coffee or do some work  in the day, or sup some beers in friendly surroundings at night.

There’s no cover charge if you want to hang out in the upstairs bar in the evening, but you usualy have to pay a small charge on the door to check out the bands downstairs.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

Remaining bits of the display from the now-departed record store in the back (see below for archive photos).

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002

We’ve always enjoyed the food and coffee here, but have to say that the last time we visited it was a bit rubbish – the wi-fi wasn’t working, the coffee bordered on undrinkable, the food was a bit ‘meh’ and the place looked a mess with chairs all piled up at the back.

I hope that’s just because it was on Thanksgiving Day when most of NYC closes down – the Cake Shop has long been one my favourite LES cafe so it would be a shame if it’s really gone downhill.

Have you been there recently? Please drop me a line and tell me it’s back to being as lovely as usual!

Archive views from November 2006

Here’s how the cafe looked at the end of 2006, when there was a full record store at the back.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

A door by the end of the counter leads downstairs into a delightfully scruffy venue below which can get very hot’n’sweaty – like all good rock’n’roll venues should!

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

Vegan whoopoe pies on the cafe counter.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

The Cake Shop record store in all its November 2006 glory.

I used to spend hours in stores like this when I was a kid, and it’s a shame to see them all disappearing for ever. Flicking through an iPod isn’t quite the same.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

“Take a chance with your lives for once”.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

The fella that ran the record shop was a nice bloke.

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, 152 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002,  photos and memories

A last look at the Cake Shop. Hopefully, we’ll be back there soon!

Discuss the Cake Shop on our boards

Extra!

Henry Rollins visits the Cake Shop and – to be honest – makes a bit of an arse of himself.

Despite what he says, the record shop was most definitely not stuffed full of “very hip” and “elitist” music. You can clearly see a Monochrome Set album in shot there FFS (I used to play for them and, trust me, I’m not elitist!)!

He comes over as a total div charging into a store with a film crew and slagging everyone off while trying to look good in front of his lady companion.

Not good, Henry.

3 Comments on “Cake Shop, Ludlow Street, New York – photos and memories”

  1. Re Mr Rollins even younger than me the old chap! I do not know zilch about his music,gramys or anything else. That said i watched to the end and also fealt uneasy.
    More importantly i have just returned from my 1st NY visit and took many photos. Only stayed 5 days and can’t wait to get back asap. I will try and get my stuff uploaded if approved. The wonderful understated cup cake shop and their neighbouring vinyl alladins cave. More to follow as soon as my ify technological nouse gets in to gear? I loved your NY subway images, really fascinatng. I realise i will have to be careful in whatever i attempt to download to the site, if i am allowed? Watch this space, but do not hold your breath!

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