The egg creams will no longer flow at an East Village landmark.

Gem Spa, a candy store with a big claim to fame for its egg cream drinks, is permanently shutting down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the owner announced Thursday.

 

 

(A file photo of one of the famous egg cream drinks served at Gem Spa in the East Village.)

“We are, and always will be, eternally grateful to the historical artists, musicians, designers and dedicated denizen’s who saw us as much more than a beloved bodega but an iconic East Village institution,” the owner, the family of Parul Patel, said in a statement. “After careful review and assessment of our options, we have made the heartbreaking but necessary decision to close permanently.”

In deciding to call it quits, the family cited the financial wounds stemming from having to close the shop during the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, Gem Spa will continue to sell branded merchandise, in addition to art, books, and photographs inspired by the store.

Even before the pandemic, Gem Spa was struggling to keep its doors open after temporarily losing its cigarette and lottery licenses in the spring of 2019.

“Prior to the crisis, it had become increasingly apparent that the evolving character of the area was no longer able to sustain a corner creation like ours,” the Patel family said in the Thursday statement.

Gem Spa opened in the 1920s on the corner of St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue. It got its current name in the 1950s, and gained fame through beat writers who frequented the place.

Celebrities and artists, including the likes of Madonna, who posed outside the store while filming “Desperately Seeking Susan,” have also dropped in. It was also once home to the famous Zoltar fortune telling machine.

-----

FURTHER CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19

How Hospitals Protect Against the Spread of Coronavirus

Coronavirus Likely Spreads Without Symptoms

Coronavirus: The Fight to Breathe

Cuomo Orders Non-Essential Workers to Stay Home

NYC Businesses to Be Fined If Caught Price Gouging Face Masks

MTA Crews Cleaning to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

Cuomo Granted Broad New Powers as New York Tackles Coronavirus