This is one of those moments that we wish this news came from The Onion but unfortunately, it’s real. The legendary CBGB club that became famous for giving the likes of 70’s punk idols The Ramones, Talking Heads, Patti Smith and more their starts, closed its doors in NYC’s East Village back in 2006.
But, over the weekend, Target paid a very special tribute to the venue during its East Village store opening, with a remake of the iconic white CBGB awning, only changing the four red letters to “TRGT.” Also included were “band”-themed goods for sale, like Band-Aids and exercise bands, plus a novelty Battle of the Bands stage and Target bass guitar. Would the 70’s punk community have approved of Big-Business America remaking their sanctuary for publicity? Maybe, maybe not.
Since pulling off the stunt, Target has apologized after immediately sparking criticism from New Yorkers and music fans who called it a “deplorable commodification of local neighborhood culture,” in the words of gentrification critic Jeremiah Moss.
In a statement, Target said, “We sincerely apologize if some eventgoers felt it was not the best way to capture the spirit of the neighborhood. We always appreciate guest feedback and will take it into consideration as we plan for future opening events.”
See pictures of the pop-up exhibit:
Homage to CBGB (
