i noticed the boring store the last few times i was in chicago, admiring its clever typography and verbiage. i later learned its backstory from friends and the internets; above is 826 national's brooklyn branch of its outreach program that spans seven cities across the states.
"the store itself claims to sell all manner of super-equipment, including canned chaos, an apprehended mini-blob, various grappling hooks and secret identity products. they offer capes in all colors and even have a cape-testing area where you can stand on a steel grate and flick a switch that powers several fans, causing said capes to furl and flutter...
the store is a cover for the 826NYC program, a nonprofit that offers free homework help to kids between the ages of 6 and 18. white-hot literary superstars sarah vowell and dave eggers are on 826's board. the 826 program itself is an outgrowth of mcsweeney's, and their brand of bone-dry hipster comedy permeates the place."
(from and i am not lying for real)
i'm not sure if chris ware did the signage for the brooklyn store, but i know he did chicago's. i'm also not sure what their other outreach locations are like (and i'm way too full of curry and ready for sleep to even keep researching at the moment) but i'll bet they're just as adorable. mcsweeney's can do no wrong, as usual. my friends and i want to start a branch in kansas city!
1 comment:
how awesome. i wish i would have known about this a few days ago when i was in chicago. i'll have to make sure to check it out next time.
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