There's always a line on the sidewalk somewhere in this city. After a while, New Yorkers tend to credit their appearance to one of several standard options, including sample sales, open auditions, special celebrity appearances, iPhone launches or giveaways.
In this case, it's jobs.
This was the scene over the weekend outside American Apparel's Flatiron branch at 19th and Fifth where the chain was holding an open call for potential employees.
Most retailers are in retrenchment mode these days, laying off workers and closing underperforming branches, but not AA.
Despite its ongoing legal embattlements, American Apparel is continuing to open new stores, which means it has jobs to offer, hence the line of hopeful shopgirls and boys willing to spend the afternoon standing out in below freezing temperatures.
Apparently, this will be taking place every Sunday through the end of February, so interested parties still have a chance to freshen up their resumes and get in line.
We suggest you go early.
After the jump, more info regarding times and places
Continue reading "Employment Update:American Apparel Is Hiring" »

Well, the neighbors finally got fed up.
This week, after someone defaced American Apparel's now infamous billboard at Allen and Houston Streets, the T-shirt chain has finally removed and replaced it with a marginally less offensive one. Rather than the typical vulgarity one usually finds scrawled on subway posters, this bit of graffiti features classic New York liberal anger, ("Gee, I wonder why women get raped?" for those having trouble making it out in the image above) and while we don't necessarily subscribe to the "porn=violence" theory, we admire the neighborhood's determination to make their feelings about the billboard known, especially in the face of the American Apparel's insensitive indifference and lack of respect for its neighbors and fellow merchants.
Thanks to faithful readers like Jessi for keeping us abreast of the situation.
How'd they get up there anyway?
American Apparel vs. the neighborhood pt II (AnnieNYC)
New billboard image: Billboards: American Apparel Does It Doggy Style on Allen (Racked)
Continue reading "American Apparel's Lower East Side Billboard Saga: Neighbors Triumphant" »
I just contacted them [American Apparel] about this, write to:
REDACTED
I was told it was artistic, even after 45 other people in the neighborhood signed my letter saying it was over the top and that this is still a residential neighborhood, a 50 foot billboard of this is too much. They didn't care. the Sugar cafe underneath complained about this one and were told 'too bad'
the phone number of the woman in charge of that f'd up billboard is:
REDACTED