There's something to be said about repurposing old telephone booths for alternative uses. Not to say that it happens all the time, as I would imagine that the booths are hard to come by, and alternate uses are certainly limited. That's why I find it interesting that I have come across two different examples of reuse in recent weeks.
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First we have the one that is now located at Sweet_ness 7 Cafe. Owner Prish Moran was able to obtain the wooden booth when Rocco Termini began construction on the Hotel Lafayette project. Prish told me that customers use the booth when talking on their cell phones, and according to one of the baristas, many of the cafe-goers actually use it for that exact purpose. Rather than walking outside to talk on their cell phones, considerate people have taken to the system and adjourn to the booth rather than disrupting the rest of the cafe.
In the second case, Pasteurized Tees' owner Michael Bowen picked up a more modern-looking and colorful telephone booth that his customers use to try on t-shirts. When I stopped in to check out the peculiar changing room a customer at the front counter told me that he had just used it and thought that the experience was both enjoyable and memorable. While the booth may be too small for most apparel shops, it's the perfect size for trying on a t-shirt. Not only does the changing room save on space, it also helps to create a buzz for the business.
Sweet_ness 7 Cafe, Grant Street. 220 Grant St. (at Lafayette Ave.), Buffalo. Phone: 716.883.1738
Pasteurized Tees 478 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, NY 14222 (716) 885-8337
if there was ever a time we needed phone booths, it is now. i am astonished at the things that cell phone users blab about for all to hear. thanks, but i really don't need to know about the baby your boyfriend had with his former girlfriend and what a #!%@& ho she is. how come -he's- never a ho?
i'm amazed i haven't had to listen to somebody's phone sex conversation in public. probably only a matter of time.
thank you prish! may bars & restaurants across the land follow suit.