When I first walked into New Top, the downtown New York jewelry store that fashion insiders adored for their gold pieces, I was dazzled by the sheer variety. It was 2016, and the shop kept popping up on my Instagram feed—all the stylish people I followed seemed to love it, and I had to see for myself.

Inside, it was a gold lover’s paradise. Two rows of gleaming glass cases displayed every kind of ring and pendant imaginable—crosses, roses, dogs—while the walls were lined with endless gold chains and bracelets. Prices varied depending on what you picked. Behind the counter, you’d always find owner George Tsui, shopkeeper Jane Shuai, or one of their assistants chatting with effortlessly cool customers. (Sometimes, Jane—the face of the store—would even slip you a secret discount if she liked you, if you were a loyal shopper, or if you had a big Instagram following and promised to post your purchase. She’d always repost with excitement.)

At its peak, especially in the mid-to-late 2010s, you’d often have to wait in line to get inside. New Top was the spot where top fashion writers, stylists, models, and editors shopped. (My former colleague Liana Satenstein even boosted its reputation with a buzzy Vogue profile.) But earlier this month, New Top suddenly and mysteriously closed its doors for good.

The store’s Instagram page, once filled with thousands of followers—including many influential creatives—has vanished without a trace. The reason for the closure remains unknown, but in a statement shared exclusively with Vogue, Shuai thanked her loyal customers: “I am very grateful for your support and friendship every day I worked there,” she wrote through a third party. “I will always remember your sunny smiles!”

As news of the closure spreads, fashion lovers are already mourning the loss—and for good reason. Few shops like it remain in the city. For one, you didn’t need a fortune to shop there; New Top was known for its affordable prices. (Nearby, Popular Jewelry on Canal Street is another celebrity favorite, though pricier.) It was also one of the city’s larger, more scene-y jewelry stores—you went not just to shop, but to see who else was shopping.

When Vogue asked fashion insiders to share their favorite New Top memories, we were flooded with stories of unforgettable moments amid its treasure trove of gold. Below, read their tributes to a true New York icon. This really is the end of an era.

### Liana Satenstein, writer and creator of NeverWorns
“I loved it because you could get something as small as a pinky ring or as big as a chunky gold chain. It eventually became the place where, when someone left Vogue, they’d get an engraved piece of jewelry as their goodbye gift.”

### Kim Shui, designer
“Jane walked in one of my first shows. Almost all my gold jewelry is from there. She just knew what you were looking for and always made perfect suggestions. If you wanted custom lettering, she made it happen.”

### Sally Singer, president, Art + Commerce
“I loved New Top—especially Jane, who’d brag about her brilliant, artistic daughter while pulling out dozens of charms for me to agonize over. It was my go-to for personalized, talismanic gold pieces—my idea of 14-karat heaven. The selection was huge, the prices fair, and the scene unbeatable. One of the last true downtown gems.”

### Brooke Bobb, fashion news director, Harper’s Bazaar
“I’ve never been big on jewelry—clothes and shoes excite me more. But there was something sublimely New York…”New Top had walls covered in celebrity photos and strands of shiny necklaces. The lighting was dim, the display cases a bit messy, and Jane, the owner, kept you guessing—did she like you or not? Still, it was the first place I thought of when I wanted something special to mark my daughter’s birth a few years ago: a small gold nameplate ring with her initials “RAY” in bold block letters. It’s sweet, stylish, and totally unpretentious—just like New Top itself, a hidden gem.

*Mellany Sanchez, photographed for a Vogue story in 2016 outside New Top.
Photo: Zachary Chick*

Cady Lang, writer
Buying gold in Chinatown is a New York rite of passage, and New Top was the best of the best. I got my first piece of gold jewelry there—a script nameplate ring with a tiny heart—to celebrate a new job. Jane, always glamorous with perfect hair and nails, was endlessly patient, pulling out tray after tray of jewelry as I spent over an hour trying on rings and debating styles. That personal touch made New Top special, and it’s why I kept coming back.

Irene Kim, production & editorial associate, Vogue Runway
When my friend Liana Satenstein left Vogue, we wondered: What do you get the girl who has everything? The answer was New Top, the Chinatown jewelry store Liana had written about so often. With just 12 hours before her farewell party, we rushed in, and even though it was almost closing time, George and Jane made it happen—a custom pendant ready the next day. While we were there, Jane gave me honest advice on what would suit me and fit my budget, a refreshing change from pushy salespeople.

Leah Faye Cooper, digital style director, Vogue
One of my biggest shopping regrets? Never buying anything from New Top—no charm, no hoops, nothing. Sure, there are plenty of places to buy gold, but New Top had this fun, magical energy. If I could go back, I’d absolutely get Jane to make me an “LeahFaye” nameplate necklace.

Justine Carreon, affiliate manager, Katie Couric Media
New Top was a New York institution—a place where luxury felt fun and approachable, with that classic Manhattan charm that drew everyone in. When I first started going, I was a broke fashion writer with expensive taste. New Top helped me build my jewelry collection with what’s now considered trendy 14-karat charms, long before they went viral. Even though I don’t live in the city anymore, I still visited like it was a must-see spot. (I like to think I was the first to ask Jane to add a charm to gold Huggies!)

Emilia Petrarca, writer
I wasn’t a superfan, but my friends got me a gold Italian horn necklace from New Top for my Sopranos-themed 25th birthday. My high school boyfriend also bought me a Carrie Bradshaw-style nameplate there. Proof that it was affordable but still high-quality enough to last forever.

Christian Allaire, senior fashion and style writer, Vogue
I’ve bought—and lost—so many pieces from New Top, like a martini-shaped pendant I wore nonstop in my 20s. Jane always remembered me and showed me things I didn’t know I needed. I wish I still had them all.I always lose my jewelry! But the memories of shopping with Jane and our little chats are even more precious—those I’ll always keep.