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The down-but-not-out Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place has been transformed into a "Schitibank" — "A New concept bank, in New York's bohemian East Village," per the new signage. (Thanks to the EVG reader for the photo!)

A nice touch ahead of the #SaveNYC cash mob here Saturday (Sept. 14) from noon to 2 p.m.

There have been rumors that the landlord here is interested in a Citibank for this venerable corner. More background in the links below...

Updated 8:30 a.m.

Ah! Jeremiah Moss has much more on this "vivid dystopian vision of the new St. Mark's Place."

The Schitibank project features bohemian East Villagers — Jean-Michel Basquiat and Patti Smith (on Schitibikes), Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, Ted Berrigan, the New York Dolls, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Gem Spa's own Candy the Cat (smoking weed).
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[Photo by J. Moss]

Previously on EV Grieve:
• A cash mob Saturday at Gem Spa (Sept. 10)

• Get your Gem Spa t-shirts or photos of Madonna — at Gem Spa! (Aug. 16)

• Will you buy a Gem Spa T-shirt? (June 28)

• The Gem Spa Zoltar is alive and well and telling fortunes an L-train ride away in Bushwick (June 19)

• "Gem Spa is open!" (June 18)

• What is happening at Gem Spa? (June 11)

• A visit to Gem Spa (May 10)