Pope’s Visit Interfered With Rich New Yorkers’ Ability To Worship Gold Calfskin Boots

Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to New York was not exactly a godsend for some retailers along Fifth Avenue, as much of the street was closed off to ensure the Pope’s security. Store owners took time from coveting their neighbors’ asses to complain:

“Our Fifth Avenue store was open, but it was totally blocked,” said Robert Siegel, chairman and chief executive of Lacoste USA. “The police wouldn’t let people move by the store for about five hours, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., [Saturday] and wouldn’t let people in that area with any shopping bags or backpacks.”

Backpacks? How terribly gauche.

Barneys New York experienced lulls in its business periodically over the weekend. “It was really a case of a couple of hours here and there on Saturday,” said a spokeswoman. “Fifth Avenue was closed, so people couldn’t come in through the men’s store [whose entrance is on 61st Street], but people had no trouble entering on Madison Avenue. There were quiet hours on Saturday when the pope’s procession was on Fifth Avenue and the street was closed. Overall, it didn’t hurt business.”

Well, that’s good. We didn’t get to do much shopping this weekend because we had to go to some party. We heard they had these low calorie wafers that are all the rage in, like, Bolivia right now. And, like, have you ever seen a fat Bolivian? Or a Bolivian? Of course not. Plus: Free wine!

Shoppers Shy Away From Fifth Ave. During Pope’s Visit [WWD]