I was thinking about another Sara story but hope that this does not offend, but I heard it with my own ears. The period was sometime in the early 80's. This is about a Japanese Mother and Teenage Son in the store when Conrad was alive. I am in the store looking at some jerseys when I hear Sara refer to "Jap" components when she learns from her customer that Ugo DeRosa agreed to put Japanese Shimano components on a DeRosa frame that Ugo built for the boy. You should have seen Sara's face when she realized that she was actually talking to Mrs Shimano when it was explained to Sara that the lady's husband was also in the bicycle business.
Mike Schmidt
Stirling, NJ
Bike List'" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:49 PM Subject: RE: [CR]Boutique buying in the classic era -- Not quite the same!
>
> Chuck Schmidt wrote:
>
>
> "Conrad's in NYC next to the United Nations was another 70s boutique
> style store; they had nothing but the best of the best (is Sara still
> around?)!"
>
> YES, Sara is still around and just as bitchy as ever. Always
> wore a "victim of the press" lapel button. Her intention was to
> selfaggrandize I guess, but nobody really gave a hoot about her except
> to trade stories about her nastiness. DON'T call on Wednesdays unless
> you want heart palpitations.
> Story: I built a bike ( Barry Hoban frame; out of the Falcon
> factory I think) for a very nice young lady back in 1981. We went to
> Conrad's for something and when she told Sara about the new bike and
> Sara was her usual nasty self, my friend told dear Sara in a quite
> proper way to go stuff it! Very satisfying; glad I was there.
> Conrad was a nice enough guy and kept her in check. That shop
> was THE place back in the late 70's New York. He'd go to the N.Y. show
> and buy the best stuff on day 1. When you went to the shop, if it was
> your size, good. If not, too bad, couldn't order a bike like that.
> If you needed it, you went there and you PAID.
> Got some sidi shoes one rainy day. Came with a genuine signed Francesco
> Moser picture card in the shoe box; still got it.
>
> John T.Pergolizzi
> Brooklyn, N.Y.