Move aside Studio 54! B&H has become the new “hottest club in town” as throngs of New Yorkers flocked to the electronics and camera store in a mad dash to secure a pair of eclipse sunglasses. The store witnessed an extraordinary scene as customers lined up for hours, creating lines that snaked around the entire store.
Noah Hurwitz, a resident of Queens, shared his experience, stating that he waited in line for at least half an hour, despite having already purchased a pair online. He even quipped that B&H had become the trendiest club in town. The demand for eclipse glasses was no surprise, as staring at the sun, even during a partial eclipse, can cause long-lasting damage to the eyes.
The frenzy to obtain solar eclipse glasses led to some chaos, with jostling and occasional scuffles breaking out. Many companies initially offered free glasses to New Yorkers, but these options quickly disappeared as the event drew closer.
Liam Collins, who had come to B&H to purchase photo gear for the eclipse, recounted seeing fights break out among people vying for the coveted glasses. He mentioned that even workers at Penn Station were distributing glasses, resulting in extreme overcrowding.
B&H stocked single pairs of viewers for $1.29, as well as eclipse sunglasses priced at $39.95. Other retailers also jumped on the bandwagon, peddling the products at various price points. However, B&H emerged as the clear winner, with people scrambling to the store even at the last minute.
Despite the long wait and the crowds, customers like Jason deCastro believed that it was worth the sacrifice. Jason recounted his experience of waiting for 51 minutes to buy the glasses, expressing his hope that the weather wouldn’t betray him on the day of the eclipse.
The Great North American Solar Eclipse, the last total eclipse to hit the US for the next 20 years, was scheduled to occur on April 8, with New York expected to witness 90% of the eclipse. This
