There will be a notable absence on Bogart Street, near the Morgan L stop, this summer. Anyone who has passed the cafes, bars, and vintage shops of the area in the last five years should remember the vendors selling books and records on the sidewalk. These vendors considered themselves a fixture of the community until late March, when police issued at least one court summons for vending without a license and forced operations to cease.

“There’s essentially four vendors that form the core,” says Frank Rispoli, a designer and photographer from Bay Ridge, who became close friends with the group and spent significant time on Bogart, though he never sold wares himself.

Two of the vendors spoke with Bushwick Daily about what happened. There is Tony, originally from Bensonhurst and now living in Rockaway, with his soul patch and thick Brooklyn accent. Tony sells books, records, art, and miscellaneous items.