Euros Accepted in NYC
New York has long been America’s most international city. Aside from the United Nations, the ethnic enclaves like Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Italy, etc., and the wide variety of global cuisine, we can now boast that New York shop owners are accepting Euro.
Reuters tells the tale of a wine shop in the East Village who accept payments in British Pounds, Canadian Dollars, and now, Euros. Makes perfect sense considering how many shoppers are from abroad and the fact that the owners visit Paris regularly.
This is the latest in the evolution of the NYC brand. After a [failed] Olympic bid, a re-branding, a funky ad campaign, and the recent influx of Euro-tourists taking advantage of the terrible, terrible weakness of the Dollar, New York, more than ever, is become a global city. There’s even talk of seceding from NY State. I think they should go one step further and secede from the US altogether. Imagine a North American Singapore.
But has the Eurofication of New York damaged or bolstered its image? Should New York, America’s First City, be so foreign-looking? Should we be focused on presenting the best and brightest that the US can offer? Should we encourage American companies to set up shop here, or encourage foreign investments?
New York is a complex city and a complex brand. One thing is certain, it’s never dull. What are your thoughts about New York? Are we betraying our true self or just evolving with the times?
