Gem Spa Sells Magazines and "Egg Creams," but no Gems! (NYC, March 2009)

Gem Spa Sells Magazines and "Egg Creams," but no Gems! (NYC, March 2009), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Gem Spa is not a spa and it sells no gems! Instead, it is an old-fashioned, well-stocked newspaper/magazine store that also happens to sell fountain sodas, ice cream, candy and what is generally regarded to be New York's best "Egg Cream" (a hand-mixed, flavored, carbonated beverage that DOES NOT include eggs or cream!). It's been there for more than 70 years and is a true NYC institution.

Gem Spa was featured on the back cover of the New York Dolls debut album as well as on a well-known Ramone's photograph and T-Shirt... assuring it a small place in Rock & Roll history and it's legend as a local icon.