Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Today's Blind Items - The Retail King

We wish to remain in the shadows. None of us are famous or would be known to the general population, nor do we want to be. We offer a little backstory on East 71st Street, lot is now known, but some has slipped right on by.

When our little club was younger living full time in NY, a member worked for the Retail King in the late 80’s early 90’s. 

RK’s empire was coming into its heyday. He had impressive flagships and decent product back then.
When RK purchased on 71st Street, he had a huge apartment in a condo building, with CP views. Club Member mentioned that the condo had like 13 bathrooms; the blueprints had come across their desk one day. Also RK had a big project starting on 71st Street. It was going to take a couple of years.

Another topic of interest was RK’s supposed close friendship with a Hollywood movie star. An actor that had great success in the 60’s and 70’s. The actor worked heavily in the 80’s, had a major role in a much-watched TV miniseries (everyone’s mother was in love with him). He has always “worked”, and still does to this day. Back then it seemed like the actor lived at RK’s when he was in NYC, which was a lot. So much so, that Page Six was starting to hint about his presence. There were a couple of blind items too. While the actor is out of the closet now, he was not then. 

At the same time another member of our little club had a very well-fixed grandmother. She had an incredible apartment, in one of the co-ops you can’t buy your way into. After the member’s parents moved to the country, they moved in with the grandmother. We all wanted to move in and in some respect we did. Club member’s grandmother always had incredible gossip, food, cocktails and friends. She and her crowd loved having the “younger set” around, as she referred to us.

The club called the grandmother Vera, because she reminded everyone of Vera Charles in “Auntie Mame”. Over the years we learned far more about what was really going on in NYC at Vera’s, than the papers ever printed.

Not long after we settled into Vera’s social circle, the renovations on 71st street started and so did the fighting. Lots of demands, about not wanting public disclosure of details. Major disagreements with the planning commission and code officials. There were digging request (like the ones you hear about going on in London today). It was a constant uproar. The technology RK was putting in had never been seen before. It was causing serious issues with the neighbors, the city, historical committees and Con Ed. Lots of legal going back and forth. Every now and then, tidbits would make the papers but a lot the club got to hear at Vera’s, did not. 

Overlapping with RK’s renovation on 71st, were two other major renovations across the street. They were at different stages of completion. These neighbors were spending at the same level as RK and were more high profile, they just did not have as much square footage. We will come back to them later.

One day two of the club members were on their way to Vera’s and decided to go down 71st street to check on the progress. It was in full swing. About the time they are in front admiring the place, this nice-looking guy in his 30’s, comes out. He had plans rolled up under his arm and before the Club Members knew it, he strikes up a conversation, starts talking about the home and its history.
That is when it came out that #9 was going to be the main residence, but #11 next door, was being redone for guest and staff. He then turned to the CMs and said; Would you like a tour?

The place was about 70% done but there was no question, it was going to be incredible. #11 was just as beautiful as #9. The homes were not being combined but completed as two separate residences.

Not long after, Retail King announced he was getting married.  It was an unexpected turn of events. The club’s theory was shredded. We had wagered that 71st Street was going to be for RK’s mother and sister.
 
We had to shift our hypothesis to 71st Street being part of RK’s “family” plan, and he would keep the condo for his other life. No one ever saw #9 and #11 come out of RK’s portfolio. The interior being put in was clearly for fine entertaining, and elegant “home” living. It was going to be a perfect wedding gift from an older husband, to a very young, but refined wife. 

Fast forward a few years, when it was reported in the late 90’s that Retail King purchased New Media King’s old apartment on 5th. NMK was moving to a larger apartment in the same building. While RK spent some major bank and time redoing NMK’s old apartment, we saw no movement at 71st . 

That brings us to Creature. We have only seen him once in person, in the late 90’s. At a political cocktail party, held in a very wealthy donor’s apartment. 60 or so people were in attendance, with the C&C being the focal point.

In the group were Date, Club Member, +1.  +1 asked if Date knew Creature at three o’clock, and Date said he did.
+1 looked at the Club Member and asked if they knew Creature? They did not. Club Member was told by +1 to remember Creature; he would tell them why later. If RK was there, club member did not see him. The rest of the room was what you would expect for such an event. A scene right out of “Bonfire of the Vanities”.

Afterwards, the three went to dinner. Once the drinks were in hand, Club Member asked what the fuss was about, regarding Creature. Creatures problems were explained in blunt terms. In this discussion neither RK or where Creature hung his hat, came up. However, the Royal’s friendship with Creature and Creature’s Heiress companion did. Neither of which were in attendance that night.

The first question Club Member asked; If what Date and +1 said was true, why would the Royal be friends with Creature, and why would Creature be allowed in the room with the C&C? The reply CM got was, REALLY?

As we moved toward the new millennial, the club’s interest changed. RK occasionally came up. The only shift the club saw was #11 coming on the market. It was not long aftrer NMK’s apartment came into RK’s portfolio.

Some time passed before Creature’s problems came to a head in PB. The Heiress friendship with Creature started making perfect sense, as Creature was exposed. Heiress had been at the center of British society in the late 80’s. Creature had financially rescued her, after the father’s demise. Heiress was also good friends with Royal. When the press started covering Creature’s NY home, it clicked. The club was like wait; That is RK’s house!
 
Let’s go back to the neighbors on East 71st Street;

The townhouse across the street on the even numbered side of 71st , one door in from Madison, #18.  It belongs to a very famous beloved comedian/actor, who had a spectacular fall from grace. He sits in jail right now, for what else? Being a serial rapist.

The disgraced comedian/actor and his wife spent a fortune renovating. Like RK’s townhouse, it had the latest must have feature of the day, heated sidewalks. C/A was at one time trying to mortgage the house, to pay off his mounting legal bills.   

There is also another interesting resident who lives on the even side of 71st , directly across from #9 & #11. The impressive home shares its west wall, with the back of the Frick, #14. It belongs to a billionaire businessman and his socialite wife. The husband is famous for the “jetset empire” he founded and later got pushed out of. While the home is not as large as #9, it is similar and has heated sidewalks, along with serious security. Some might know the billionaire couple more for their daughters’ high-profile marriages. It is the daughters, their spouses, and the coming of age grandchildren, that keep their name in the papers. 

The youngest daughter married and divorced the son of a famous socialite/ clothing designer. The clothing designer’s second husband is a billionaire himself. There have been horrible whispers about Billionaire Second Husband for decades. The talk gives Creature a run for his money, in the evil department. The club has often wondered, if BSH uses his extraordinary SY as a substitute, for an island.

There are all sorts of common denominators between Creature and the Billionaire neighbor’s extended family. You just need to step back and look.


101 comments:

  1. Richard Chamberlain for the actor ?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tommy Hilfiger for RK?/clothing guy?(or Guess’Georgio Marciano

    ReplyDelete

  3. https://www.forbes.com/2005/09/22/cosby-realestate-townhouse-cx_sc_0923movers_ls.html#3825ad554ea8


    What to make of this? According to public records, entertainer Bill Cosby recently sold a six-story townhouse on East 71st Street in Manhattan--to himself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Probably mesns he took a mortgage out on it.

      Delete
  4. Creature=Epstein
    Retail King=Les Wexler
    Heiress=Grislaine
    Comedic Actor=Cosby

    ReplyDelete
  5. Creature -Epstein
    Heiress -Ghislaine

    ReplyDelete
  6. Boy if humble brag was a blind item this would be it. "We're so wealthy and connected, we just HAVE to tell you plebes about it."

    ReplyDelete
  7. Famous socialite is Diane Von Furstenberg.
    Second husband is Barry Diller.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cosby is the rapist comedian
    Crazy Eddie Antar the Retail King
    Andrew Prince from V Retail Kings frien?

    ReplyDelete
  9. this was the longest, most pointless thing i have ever read. WTF

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cosby is obviously the C\A

    ReplyDelete
  11. thinking Richard Chamberlain for the actor

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am a simpleton. This blind lost me halfway through.

    ReplyDelete
  13. RK= Wexner

    Creature, Heiress=Epstein, Maxwell

    Neighbors=Robert Warren Miller and Family

    BSH=Barry Diller (wife Diane von Furstenberg, whose son married the daughter of RWM)

    ReplyDelete
  14. *Andrew Prine from V*?

    ReplyDelete
  15. https://observer.com/2009/01/wexner-asks-60-m-at-godly-834-fifth/

    By January 1996, the billionaire Les Wexner hadn’t spent two months in his 21,000-square-foot stone mansion on East 71st Street, even though he had bought the place seven years earlier, his protégé Jeffrey Epstein told The Times. Never mind that it had been outfitted with a hidden lead-lined bathroom (with a closed-circuit TV) and a heated sidewalk to keep the mansion snow-free

    ReplyDelete
  16. RK Wexner,Gay actor Richard Chamberlain, comedian rapist Cosby...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Last paragraph about daughter marrying and divorcing son of famous socialite/clothing designer: Alexandra Miller. Daughter of Robert Warren Miller who owns duty free shops.

    ReplyDelete
  18. lol, i feel like this blind doesn't really give any new info or players?

    enty, run a blind about Epstein and Naomi Campbell. that little tidbit you gave on your podcast was really intriguing to me.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Trish, Richard Chamberlain is long dead and the blind says he still works. That was my first guess too though, until the "still works" bit.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Flashy.:: he’s not dead-(old lol) not dead though. Lives in BH,CA(85 years old)

      Delete
    2. Richard Chamberlain is ALIVE.

      Delete
  20. G Maxwell the heiress with no money friend of Prince Andrew,the whispered about Billionaire could be Barry Diller. Of course the big house is Epstein's. Of course I could just Google the neighbors.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Blind: "Fast forward a few years, when it was reported in the late 90’s that Retail King purchased New Media King’s old apartment on 5th. NMK was moving to a larger apartment in the same building. While RK spent some major bank and time redoing NMK’s old apartment, we saw no movement at 71st . "


    "Wexner Asks $60 M. at Godly 834 Fifth"
    The Observer
    01/21/09

    "Mr. Wexner, whose conglomerate owns, among other things, Victoria’s Secret, paid a reported $9 million for the fifth-floor duplex in 1997. His seller, an Italian named Eduarda Crociani, had wanted $12 million, but the sprawl was a fixer-upper. There wasn’t even air-conditioning in the summertime. “You almost gagged to death,” a source said. (Incidentally, Rupert Murdoch, who now has 834 Fifth Avenue’s penthouse triplex, owned the duplex years earlier.)"

    https://observer.com/2009/01/wexner-asks-60-m-at-godly-834-fifth/

    ReplyDelete
  23. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/a28340797/jeffrey-epstein-townhouse-upper-east-side/

    ReplyDelete
  24. @ Flashy Vic, imbd seems to think that Chamberlain is still alive and working.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm intrigued that the author calls Epstein "Creature"

    ReplyDelete
  26. Fuck me!😲😲😲
    First ever Mandela effect moment. I would swear on my mum's grave that he died a decade or so ago! I remember reading it in multiple papers.


    I don't like this universe (no disrespect to Dr Kildare, I'm glad he's still around in this one) and want to go back to my old real one. To help with you interdimensional freaks!😁

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks and keep the info coming.
    The Great Awakening has begun!

    Ignore "Unknown"'s accusation that this is pointless info.
    This is VITAL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Makes one want to have a delicious slice of bread 😈😆😄😃😂

      Delete
  28. The numerous references of concurrent construction projects that both featured heated sidewalks makes me think that the construction was a cover.

    Maybe a tunnel under 71st so that Epstein could secretly drop off his wares to Cosby?

    ReplyDelete
  29. RK = Les Wexner
    RK's closeted friend = Richard Chamberlain
    Grandma/Vera = ?
    NMK = Rupert Murdoch
    C&C = ?
    Creature = Epstein
    Royal = Andy
    Heiress = Ghislaine
    Date = ?
    C/M = ?
    +1 = ?
    C/A = Cosby
    Billionaire businessman = Robert Warren Miller
    Socialite wife = Diane von Furstenberg
    Youngest daughter = Alexandra von Furstenberg
    Socialite/clothing designer's father = Prince Egon von Furstenberg
    Socialite wife/clothing designer's 2nd husband = Barry Diller
    Horrible whispers ---> Barry Diller
    Barry Diller's SY/island substitute = Second Yacht?
    Billionaire Second Husband = Barry Diller

    ReplyDelete
  30. Diane - doesn't the blind say RC is alive? "He has always “worked”, and still does to this day."

    The guesses? Like everyone else, I'll guess Richard Chamberlain, and Bill Cosby.

    Aside from that, all I can say is, I want an Auntie Vera.

    Those enormous condos overlooking Central Park? Sigh.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Can we hear more about Vera's gossip?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Umm...btw why would anyone have a "lead lined bathroom?"

    Does that make it impossible to film/audio record/bug?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fall out, perhaps.

      Delete
    2. So Superman can't spy on you while you potty, duh!!!

      Delete
  33. Soon, we will know all the Creatures from each of the Black Lagoons. I don't care from what aisle you rest your political hat, these are swamps that must be drained.

    ReplyDelete
  34. "There have been horrible whispers about Billionaire Second Husband for decades. The talk gives Creature a run for his money, in the evil department. The club has often wondered, if BSH uses his extraordinary SY as a substitute, for an island."

    BSH/Barry Diller's SY = superyacht ("EOS")

    https://www.superyachtfan.com/sailing-yacht-eos.html

    ReplyDelete
  35. Well , Led Luther and anyone afraid of fallout may want a lead bathroom

    ReplyDelete
  36. This boils down to: Cosby and the Millers live across the street from Epstein and they all have heated sidewalks. That’s all normal on the UES. Also, Richard Chamberlain and Les Wexner were naughty partners in crime in New York in the late 80s. No, they weren’t lovers. If you think that, you’ve clearly never met a gay man. That’s just not how it works. And the writer worked for Wexner? So, like, he was a key manager at the Structure on 34th St?

    ReplyDelete
  37. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.
    -The Great Gatsby

    New money vs. old money. I wonder what green glowing light at the end of Daisy and Tom's pier, that Gatsby dreamed and longed for, was Epstein's? Wealth, respect, fear, love? Or was he just a character in other peoples lives, a setter of scenes.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Vera, I want to know more! Who could it be?

    Great break down Cody

    ReplyDelete
  39. So good....soooooo goooooood.....

    ReplyDelete
  40. I'm sure Geffen is either relived heat has been taken off him or hopefully more paranoid than ever that he's next! If the House of Geffen cards ever fall, its going to have epic consequences and ruin a lot of careers, but i'm sure they'll all say they "had no idea" just like Meryl!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I’m honestly surprised that the Q’ers haven’t linked the gross residents of that block all the way back to Henry Clay Frick and found some kind of unholy connection there. And maybe the Frick’s underground expansion plans are also linked?? Oh shoot- did I just leak some new hints? Hate when I do that...

    ReplyDelete
  42. Vera = Gloria Vanderbilt?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That’s who I was thinking of, too. Either her or her friend, Carol Grace (Matthau)? She sounds like she was a lively socialite, with a wide array of friends.

      Delete
  43. I think this is really interesting, and, holy crap, that's quite a cast of characters in one very expensive neighborhood!

    Codyave- thanks, I couldn't think what SY meant!

    Thinking about this one and the other SY we read about...ive wondered if they arent purchased so much as substitutes for islands, as perhaps refuges should walls start to cave in? If the yacht is in international water, would that be the same as a country with no extradition treaty? I really have no clue, just thinking it would be a pleasant form of escape.

    Slightly off topic, did anyone see Inside Edition yesterday? First, they flew a drone over Epstein's Island, then Lisa Guerrero had a dinghy drop her off right on shore. She got one foot on the beach before a guy, who looked like he would be a golf buddy of Epstein more than an ominous security guard, emerged from the bushes and told them to leave. She tried to stall, but turned and left. Because of this site, thought it was a rather fascinating two minutes of tv!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Lead-lined bathroom with CCTV - googled it. Lead-lined rooms protect against x-rays, radio-waves and sound:
    "Most sound protection is done by controlling the echoes, as in an anechoic chamber. But mass also helps, so lead is sometimes used for deadening sound, often in foams that both distort and block the sound."
    Well, whatever one needs a sound-proof bathroom for...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holy shit another Astra?

      Delete
    2. Think back to mob movies, run the water talk about shit. This just cranks that up. Cellphones made it moot.

      Delete
  45. C&C = the Clintons

    ReplyDelete
  46. For everyone who is confused--just google the names in the comments and you will find a bunch of complicated and fascinating connections. Of all the random blinds associated with Epstein, this is actually the best.

    ReplyDelete
  47. @Sara & Lucy - that's what I was thinking too.

    ReplyDelete
  48. here for the comments

    ReplyDelete
  49. I think what's being hinted at in the last paragraph is that one of Robert Miller's daughters is married to Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, who is roughly a second cousin (several times over) of Prince Andrew.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Anonymous2:04 PM

    This is an interesting one, if only for the glimpse into that world. Great guesses in the comments too.
    I had to look Chamberlain up on IMDB also. I could have sworn I heard he died years ago also. He's apparently still working.

    ReplyDelete
  51. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Wonder if the lead lined bathroom is the one with the dentist's chair? If so, not good.

    ReplyDelete
  53. This is Eyes Wide Shut.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Diller is gay in a fake marriage
    Gloria took his wife under her wing as a designer

    ReplyDelete
  55. Www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-bought-nyc-townhouse-how-2019-7

    ReplyDelete
  56. astra - eww...

    Where else to clean up a...mess, than a bathroom.

    ReplyDelete
  57. This whole Wexner affair has been bring ing up for me so many recovered memories of shopping at The Limited. And Express, though it was a little cheaper looking. And that Outback Red era of prairie boots and floral skirts circa 1988 maybe. If we had known then what that empire was built on would that Limited sweater have seemed so necessary?

    ReplyDelete
  58. @Sara, Yes, Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece is Miller’s daughter. Alexandra still works for DVF but got remarried a few years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Is "C&C"
    "Commander in Chief"?
    Hello, Arkansas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C+C music factory
      Gonna Make you Sweat stuck in my head now
      This is kinda old school cool of Enty, with some cool players. Now if we could get some reveals.

      Delete
  60. Crap AJ went over the neighbors in a recent podcast. Cosby and Epstein were neighbors with several others. I will relisten to the patreon

    ReplyDelete
  61. Apparently, The Gettys loved across from Epstein in New York. Anyone else come up with this?

    ReplyDelete
  62. Side note: heated side-walks? Really? Heated Side-walks = underground tunnels.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Testing- are we still being punished?

    ReplyDelete
  64. Fat and skinny had a race

    ReplyDelete
  65. All around enty’s publishable place

    ReplyDelete
  66. Fat fell down, accused pedophilia across the board
    And skinny won the race!

    ReplyDelete
  67. Agree with Codyave's guesses.

    I'd also guess C&C as being Bill and Hillary Clinton.

    ReplyDelete
  68. OK, for better recognition I shall be astra smith from now on. I hope that helps.

    ReplyDelete
  69. I'm still not buying this "Richard Chamberlain being alive" bollocks.

    I need sworn affidavits, a picture of the not late Mr Chamberlain holding a copy of today's Belfast Newsletter in one hand and doing a thumbs up with the other and a cheque (or check if you prefer) made out to cash for the sum of twenty thousand of your US dollars.

    ReplyDelete
  70. A connection not mentioned yet regarding the Millers. Marie-Chantal Miller married the Crown Prince of Greece. They remain quite close to the British royal family due to the Queen’s husband being born a Greek prince. Prince William is even a godfather to one of Marie-Chantal and Pavlos’s

    ReplyDelete
  71. Richard Chamberlain is not dead..........he's retired!

    ReplyDelete
  72. I was wrong. Not only is Richard Chamberlain still alive, he's still working!

    ReplyDelete
  73. It's Robert Miller. He was the first person to start duty free stores in airports. He made billions but had a falling out with his partner about 10 yrs ago. His daughters have married The future "King" of Greece, a Getty and a Furstenberg. I think that latter two are divorced.
    The 80's actor in the mini-series is Richard Chamberlain for The Thorn Birds and before that Shogun. Both were hugely popular. The other comedian is Bill Cosby.
    I'm here guessing blind gossip items to avoid packing. I just sold my house a few days ago. Yeah! Nothing like moving in the middle of a heat wave In NYC.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Overall this blind is pretty weak sauce in my book. It points out Cosby lived close to Epstein, which is fairly common knowledge, brings up Barry Diller rumors we've all heard for the umpteenth time, and then implies the Millers are somehow connected to Epstein's games because they live nearby and have kids in the mix of European royalty/New York society. I used to live on the South Side of Chicago, but that doesn't mean I was a member of the GDs or the Almighty Black P Stones.

    I'd recommend everybody google Max Fisher and do some more research on his connections to Wexner and others...

    ReplyDelete
  75. Cheers to this blind!! This was great and I do hope more of Vera's T hits this site. Well done Shadow King or Queen!

    ReplyDelete
  76. the 1992 party video on the DM featuring Trump and Epstein is not helping the pro trump commenters. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Does G Maxwell's sister fit in this blind somewhere?

    https://www.wired.com/1999/02/maxwell/

    ReplyDelete
  78. Vera: Marie-Christophe de Menil, Dash Snow's grandmother.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Oh the IRONY of "The Club" trying to come off as innocent bystanders here. Heads up... yer gonna burn as well.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Libet Johnson—was she a key player? See: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7294665/Jeffrey-Epstein-doomed-dome-Pedophile-Islands-mysterious-temple-lost-golden-dome.html.

    Also, Johnson's obituary links her to Cambodian orphans (https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=elizabeth-johnson&pid=185769475).

    ReplyDelete