The Upper Rust

Profile

A love of antiques and strange finds had always been a simple passion for Kevin Bockrath, until 2002 when he realized his onetime hobby had turned him into a “collector out-of-control” so he moved his extensive collection to the East Village and let his eye-catching accent pieces spill out onto the sidewalk. Crammed with treasures acquired primarily through estate sales, the densely packed store sells private collections of jewelry, full china sets, painted mirrors, and lighting fixtures that look more Upper East Side than Alphabet City. While Bockrath admits he’s catered his tastes to the area—large home accessories aren’t exactly in demand by his neighbors—his inventory has grown so large that he recently opened up another shop two doors down. — Alexis Brunswick