Moss Design Store In New York City To Close

It's official. Moss, one of our favorite design stores in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, is closing come February 17th. Owners Murrary Moss and Franklin Getchell told The New York Times that the store had become "a free museum...the old paradigm wasn't working," which led us to ask -- is this the end of an era for design shops that double as art galleries?

Moss is renowned for its avant-garde furniture ideas and design concepts that put new designers on display while also bringing icons such as Piero Fornasetti back to the forefront. The closing of the store will be one less outlet for emerging designers to showcase their innovative concepts that might not be ready for the mainstream market.

Moreover, Moss also closed the doors of its Los Angeles branch not too long ago, and although Mr. Moss says that there is a new New York location that is being worked out, we're wondering what they'll have to change to keep the business going. However, perhaps the closing is inevitable given that the markets for highly innovative (and expensive) art and design continue to be in flux with the unstable economy.

For the full story, head over to The New York Times, and let us know how you feel about the closing of this iconic store.