Man, has New York lost its edge.
With a wave of gentrification engulfing the East Village, the once-seedy thoroughfare known simply as the Bowery has apparently been redubbed the more genteel Bowery Street, at least if you go by this new bus-shelter sign .
The shelter, installed at the corner of Prince Street and the Bowery a little over a week ago, is causing endless snickers among locals who remember the area’s sleazy past.
At least one was bothered enough to cover the offending “St.” with an X made from masking tape.
“That’s a nice piece of civil disobedience – old school. The Bowery is the Bowery,” noted 36-year-old Justin Jacobson as he walked by.
The bus shelter is one of thousands being placed around town by Cemusa, a subsidiary of a Spanish construction firm that won a contract to provide sleek new bus shelters and newsstands.
Cemusa spokeswoman Laura Fries said that the company regretted the error and that a new sign was on the way.