Irene Stella, who at Stella Show Mgmt Co. is usually performing feats of logistics and scheduling derring-do on behalf of the hundreds of antiques dealers who exhibit at the firm’s popular Manhattan shows, recently received a little “right back at you” in the form of an affirmative nod from New York City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to sign contracts for a March 15‱6 Pier Antiques Show. The show had been in jeopardy of not taking place due to construction schedules at the facility.
“I don’t know if it was a flood of dealer e-mails and phone calls to the EDC or something else, but recently we received a letter giving us the thumbs up for March,” said a relieved Stella. “We really appreciate our dealers’ efforts.”
The city had previously informed Stella that construction problems and overruns on Piers 88 and 90 would lead to a black out of all event dates there for 2008. [See Antiques and The Arts Weekly , October 19, 2007]. That led to a cancellation of the January Americana@The Piers Show on Pier 90, and it seemed as if the March show set for Pier 94 would not be taking place.
In an October 5, 2007, letter to Stella Show Mgmt Co, the EDC’s president Robert Lieber stated that as a result of the ongoing construction on those piers, “the New York City Economic Development Corporation has instructed Ports America, the terminal operator, that no trade shows can be accommodated at Piers 88 and 90 after November 1, 2007. However, we have allowed Ports America the ability to contract shows on Pier 92 should it be available.”
Lieber also stated in the letter there will be no restrictions limiting the scheduling of shows on Pier 94.
Still up in the air is the venue for Stella’s January show at the 69th Regiment Armory, which may become unavailable if National Guard training requirements take precedence during the January 18′0 dates. Final word from the National Guard unit’s commander will probably come in November, at which time Stella said she will let her dealers know. In the meantime, the firm is negotiating for alternative sites.
For information, 212-255-0020 or www.stellashows.com .
