Manhattan Real Estate

Q: I am under the impression that real estate in Manhattan is extremely expensive, and that prices for goods are correspondingly expensive. So I was surprised to hear what Joe G. and Rupert charge for their food, which seems very reasonable, no more than what I would pay for similar items here in middle-America suburbia. It makes me wonder how Rupert and Joe can make a living. Is business that good? Does anyone have any idea what Rupert and Joe G. pay for rent? Have they been there since before The Ed Sullivan theatre was built? Who owns the building? Also, I remember Dave used to visit a bagel shop on the same block, but haven't seen it lately. Is it still there?

A: -Yup -- costs about $2000 a month to rent a decent studio apartment or $200,000 to buy a tiny condo or coop. Some things do cost more; like a can of soda -- 75 cents here, more than a dollar at most places in Manhattan. _Rupert and Joe probably do very well economically. In NYC, if all of your customers come from only a three block radius of your business, you still got hundreds of thousands of customers.. Don't know what Rupert and Joe pay in rent, don't know how long they've been there. I think CBS owns the building.

-Really? You mean a 12 ounce can and not the 20 ounce plastic botttles, right? The vending machine where I work (the edge of downtown Minneapolis) has the cans for 75 cents. Either we got a really good deal or you're getting screwed. -Hey, you called it 'pop'! I've been trying so hard not to do that in here and call it 'soda' instead. The first time I was in NYC, I asked a guy at one of those little deli/grocery places 'How much is it for the pop?' He looked at me kind of funny and said, "POP? Where the hell are you from?" So Annette, when your dream of living in Manhattan comes true, always remember to call it soda, or else people will make fun of you.