Article Contributed on: 1/15/2009 10:19:47 AM
Andrew Novick works a second job. He and his wife
Janene put in several days a week switching off duties to get around their day-to-day work schedules and, for all the trouble, they'll be happy if their joint venture breaks even.
The two run Gimme Gimme Pillow Toast, an Asian pop culture boutique store in Belmar catering to people looking for the unique, the exotic and the absurd. For Novick, a Boulder electrician , that means an eclectic mix of foods, art, media, fashion and novelties.
"I think there is a pretty big interest in anime and the manga stuff," Novick said. "At Barnes and Noble you can get that. So we don't really cover [it]. That's covered already. We're trying to focus on the stuff you can't get anywhere."
DVDs of Japanese sitcoms share shelf space with designer pillows from Thailand; one clothing rack is packed with one-of-a-kind t-shirts with bizarre non sequiturs lost in translation to English while another has frilly dresses that characterize the "gothic lolita" look - a street fashion from Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district.
"My wife and I just have a love of the culture in different stuff in Asian countries," Novick said. The two make a big trip to Asia about once yearly, buying up curiosities in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore and bringing home suitcases full of stuff to sell. Novick makes it a point to learn a little bit of any language he needs.
"Anyone we told 'we're going to sell this in America?' They were super excited," Novick said. Since so many pieces come from independent artists and designers, many of the store's items are one-of-a-kind - something Novick says is part of the appeal. "If you find something you like that fits you, you'll be the only one in town with it. ... We feel like we're enlightening people."
Traveler's Japanese
When speaking with prospective travelers to Japan, Novick likes to offer his favorite useful Japanese words and phrases. Here's some of them:
sunimasen - excuse me (to get someone's attention, like you're going to ask a question)
or 'excuse me' like you need to get through
gomen nasai - I'm sorry
ikura deska - how much is it (to buy) (or more formal: ikura de sho ka)
arigato gozaimous - more common than 'domo arigato' but more formal than just 'arigato'
ohaio gozaimous - good morning (until about 11 a.m., then it's konichiwa, after dark it's kom baan wa)
wakari masen - 'I don't understand' or 'I don't know'
hai (or 'hi') - yes (or 'eee des' = 'ok')
eeee-ay - no
kudasai - please (i.e. 'beeru kudasai' = 'I would like a beer please' or 'ko-hi = coffee, o-sake = sake)
presento - gift/present (used when purchasing something for someone else, shop keeper will make much effort to gift wrap it - amazing!)
watashi or watashi wa - 'me' or 'I am' (i.e. 'watashi wa AnDaRew san' )
doko - where
ka - at the end of a phrase makes it a question (shinkansen doko des ka = 'where is the bullet train')
o-ishi (or o-ishi des) - delicious
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