Part One
Henri Bendel, a Jewish milliner
from a small town in Louisiana opened
a fancy department store in New York City,
one of the fanciest. They were the first
store to have their own perfume.
Part Two
My mother, who was a Loehmans shopper
almost exclusively
took me to Bendels a few times and once
she bought me a green Stephen Burrows dress.
I wish I had it now.
Part Three
Last week I went to Eclips Hair Salon
in Greenville New York
across the road from the Dollar Store
in a small funky house with fake flowers in front.
The shop is owned by two country sisters
Part Four
There are many Eclips hair salons
around the country including
E’Clips and Total Eclips.
Part Five
Two sisters own the place.
They are blonde and young and cheerful
and have two children each.
Part Six
The sister who cut my hair
said where do you live and when I
said New York City she said
my father’s uncle had a famous
department store there. Henri Bendel.
Bendel’s my last name, she said.
Part Seven
I’m not sure why but I said
did you know he was Jewish?
I don’t know much about him
she said. But I do know one thing.
I’m a mutt. We all are I replied.
A wonderful circular tale.
I remember Bendel as a place to stop in and use the bathroom when it was on 56 St. Then, when they moved into the space of a former electronics store on 5 Ave. and discovered four floors of Lalique windows under decades of soot. . .
Love it!