C.O. Bigelow Chemists
New York
Established in 1838 in Greenwich Village, C.O. Bigelow Chemists is America's oldest operating apothecary, famous for blending rich historic charm with full pharmacy services. It is celebrated for its curated selection of hard-to-find international skincare, specialty imported toothpastes, niche perfumes like the Demeter library, and iconic lip balms. Visitors also love its massive display of tortoiseshell hair clips, retro sticker vending machine, and friendly resident shop cat.
Commenters largely adore the shop as a nostalgic, dream-worthy Greenwich Village landmark with a European pharmacy ambiance. While beauty fans praise its lip balms and quirky fragrance selection, many viewers heavily criticize the steep prices on hair accessories, noting that similar clips and headbands can be found much cheaper at everyday drugstores. A few commenters also mentioned occasional rude or unhelpful customer service.
- Sample unique scents from the extensive Demeter Fragrance Library.
- Stock up on specialty imported toothpastes, soaps, and classic menthol lip balms.
- Look out for the store's friendly resident shop cat while browsing the aisles.
- Try out the retro sticker print vending machine for a unique keepsake.
- Be aware that hair clips and headbands carry steep boutique price tags.
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