“I’m sorry, but they are sold out.” Good luck with finding a pair of eclipse glasses now: all the places in New York that have been selling or giving out free glasses over the weekend no longer have any. There will not be a restock anytime soon. It is too late.
New York was stormed by eclipse chasers who have been wandering around in desperate need of glasses to watch the eclipse this afternoon. From 3:15 pm to 3:39 pm darkness will surround the city, with a peak at 3:25 pm.
“Welcome to Staples, we are out of solar eclipse glasses,” Staples’ assistant answered the phone before I could ask. The same reply comes like a shot from Target–whose selling is now limited online but, if bought, they will not be delivered in time; B&H and the Public Libraries in Manhattan and Brooklyn, which were handing them out for free last weekend.
This morning, one of the branches of the Public Library at 58th Street and Lexington Avenue was handing out glasses. “One each” without question. The line at the door ran for hours and it was still highly possible to not score the precious pair. Trying to ask the assistant if there were other distribution points, the answer is clear: “We have no clue how to track down other branches’ stocks.”
Another center that was giving out eclipse glasses for free was Warby Parker. It has several locations in Manhattan and to make it easier for customers, the firm set up a number to call for availability for the occasion. “Press 3 for information about solar eclipse glasses,” but there are none to be had anywhere.
After Governor Kathy Hochul launched Limited Edition I LOVE NY Eclipse Glasses, they have been sold out every day, from the time that the 30 appointed locations opened. New Yorkers could pick two pairs up at Moynihan Train Hall’s MTA Long Island Rail Road Ticket Windows, but they are all gone as well.
