ACL FILMS | Gadi Gilan

posted by Michael Williams

Gadi Gelan’s antique lighting store B4 It Was Cool has been at 89 East Houston Street for over 20 years. When Gadi moved his collection of vintage American lighting and other industrial style furniture to the area, no one cared what was happening on Houston near the Bowery. “Back when I moved in none of these buildings even had addresses.” Gadi told me while the ACL Films crew staked out his shop. “You could just make up whatever address number you wanted. No one gave a shit about this street.” How times have changed. These days Gadi’s place is an easily missed shop between luxury condos and a soon to be completed multi-million dollar Keith McNally brick-oven pizza restaurant. The second in a three part series of films presented by Cole, Rood & Haan Co., ACL Films takes a trip through Gadi’s unrivaled offerings of American industrial lighting.

Comments on “ACL FILMS | Gadi Gilan”

    sam on October 30, 2009 12:32 PM:

    “they get you too fast now…”

    love it. plus, more people should be as devoted to quality.

    Jon Gaffney on October 30, 2009 12:34 PM:

    Nice line up of the shot of the Cole Rood Haan boots while he’s talking about American design and manufacturing being the best :)

    Don Guss on October 30, 2009 12:37 PM:

    Well done, friend.

    JP on October 30, 2009 12:46 PM:

    Amazing, MW.

    We need more guys like Gadi in this world.

    Patrick on October 30, 2009 12:47 PM:

    Hi. Wonderful site, btw. If you don’t mind, can you tell me what you shot this wonderful film with? Did you light it, or was it just natural? It looks really nice, but also really simple. Well done. Thanks.

    whassup on October 30, 2009 12:57 PM:

    I call BS on this

    Sean on October 30, 2009 1:04 PM:

    Patrick – It was shot on an HVX200 using available lighting. Couldn’t have asked for better conditions, considering Gadi’s store is mostly lighting. Ha.

    Whassup – what seems to be the problem?

    Patrick on October 30, 2009 1:42 PM:

    Thanks Sean — don’t know if whassup is calling BS on my question or something else.
    My question was on the up and up — always curious when craft trumps tech. Keep it up.

    Jon Gaffney on October 30, 2009 2:36 PM:

    Sean nice work on the videography, these are a visual feast to watch.

    Jonathan on October 30, 2009 2:48 PM:

    Haha, nice Israeli accent. More than 30 years, but sounds like it’s straight off the boat :-)

    C.J. on October 30, 2009 4:20 PM:

    Where can I find part 1?

    Stephanie on October 30, 2009 4:49 PM:

    One of my favorite shops in NYC. Great job.

    Michael Williams on October 30, 2009 4:57 PM:

    Both films are here: http://acontinuouslean.com/acl-films/

    Kiko on October 30, 2009 9:31 PM:

    I want to move to NYC so bad and am thinking about doing so next year, but I have been hearing a lot of people saying that it is not the same as it used to be like the man Gadi Gelan said in the video . Why are people saying this and will it ever be back to what it used to be? What I really want to know is if it is still a fun city to live in…
    The video superb I love hearing about people finding something they love and turning it into a profitable business. Please keep up the great work.

    andrew on October 31, 2009 3:57 AM:

    maybe some things should be kept quiet and left alone to people that have found these places on their own….

    RUPTUREreport on October 31, 2009 5:50 AM:

    Kiko, don’t let those voices dissuade you. People have been saying the same thing about New York for the last 100 years. That’s the beauty of the city. It keeps changing and constantly evolving. It’s like a bucking bronco. Some time you tame it, some time it throws your ass to the ground. You have to get back up, dust yourself off and give it another shot.

    Kiko on November 1, 2009 5:34 PM:

    REPTUREreport thank you for such a beautiful explanation on what I know is a beautiful city. From now on I will not let people deter me from moving to New York.

    Charles on November 1, 2009 6:21 PM:

    Andrew,
    You realize this store is on Houston & Bowery right? Sorry, but I think the downtown cat has been out of the bag for a while.

    Antoine Lemere on November 2, 2009 11:03 AM:

    How ironic. He looks like a Mossad thug, yet he sells antique lighting fixtures. Interesting…. Never judge a book by its cover I guess?

    Tintin on November 3, 2009 12:55 PM:

    Great job. These short films have been beautiful. And I don’t get the impression this guy’s full of shit. And I, for one, miss 80’s NYC. I’m cuing up Joe Jackson’s, Night and Day

    DGM on November 4, 2009 12:23 AM:

    I love visiting Gadi’s shop. He is a genuinely nice guy and his place is awe inspiring even if I can’t afford much. I drooled over an old Hubbell bulb cage on one of his lamps. He couldn’t sell just the piece, but told me a few places to try to find one. I tracked it down after not too long. I think I owe him a beer.

    PAN on November 4, 2009 6:18 AM:

    yep, i pass this place all the time, and even if i’m not in the market for new lighting fixtures i can’t help but have a browse every time…

Comments are closed.