Linda and John Laskey closed their Mini Bike and Pet Shop on E. Houston St. store a few weeks ago, and headed for the Southwest, where they are retiring. They both grew up on the Lower East Side and have been a couple 30 years, marrying about a year ago. Rising rent wasn’t an issue, since they owned the building, which they sold. The upstairs is mostly empty. They reportedly had started to feel the local scene had become less neighborly and interesting in recent years.
Villager photos by Clayton Patterson
