The six blocks of Hudson Street between 11th and 12th Streets currently have fifteen empty storefronts. A shop owner who did not want to be named blamed it on "what's going on across the street" — on Bleecker Street. "It’s because of all the Marc Jacobs and Ralph Laurens. They are killing the Village," he said. "Ten years ago — mom-and-pop stores gone, restaurants gone, they’re all gone." The Marc Jacobses of the world are able to pay $60,000 a month in rent — or about the price of 30 Marc Jacobs handbags — which drives up prices for surrounding buildings. [Villager via Racked]