Greg Armas

Occupation Founder/Designer Assembly NY And LA

Hometown Oregon

Current Residence Between Chinatown, NY, and LA

Greg Armas is the creative mind behind one of our favorite stores, Assembly, which houses designs from Armas himself along with a selection of local, independent creators. He is also a one-time art and gallery man, and a minimalist with an eye for craft and design. Here he shares his favorite downtown spots.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
In the very wooded, rural back hills of southern Oregon. Up-hill-both-ways-in-the-snow sort of childhood.

WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?
How Do I Start This Thing!?

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
Cash. Severe minimalist. If it’s not attached to my body it’s pretty optional.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
Slow and secluded parts of Baja in Mexico. The only place I’ve been that felt more like home than where I grew up.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC?
Take enormous walks downtown, just making yourself available to the city and receiving it, running into friends… It’s a small village, really.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU “THEIR NEW YORK CITY,” WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
David Byrne or Thurston Moore, circa 1988. Downtown especially was such a different beast then and the music and irreverence of that time would be greatly appreciated.

WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY?
The designers of the varied collections we work with inspire me. I know how challenging of an environment fashion is to navigate, especially while trying to stay creative. It’s a rare mix of art and commerce and anyone that can pull it off is wildly talented.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS? WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE?
Cervos for oysters, Mogador for everything, Gohan for sushi, Dimes for positivity, and Balthazar for its lighting.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
Friends’ rooftops.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC BRUNCH SPOTS; WHAT DO YOU ORDER WHEN YOU GO?
Sant Ambreous on Lafayette or Cafe Sabarsky in the Neue Galerie; classic eggs and bacon situation.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST?
I try to go to the Dream House as often as possible. Also, the Walter De Maria Earth Room on Wooster.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC?
Mr. Fongs, Primos, Soho Grand… every place is different every night, the city energy moves around like that.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC VISITORS?
Definitely the Dream House, The Earth Room and Neue Galerie. Also, taking the free Ikea ferry from the seaport is a great view of the city from the water.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC STORES AND WHY?
De Vera on Crosby is one of the most meaningful shops in the city for artifacts and jewelry. For clothes, IF in SoHo—a classic ’90s to ’000s feeling shop with Margiela, Yohji, etc., which has been there unchanged forever.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS?
Who are some of your favorite musicians? Lately, it’s been Les Rallizes Dénudés, Bardo Pond, Hella, Durutti Column, Big Youth and The Bangles.

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
Psychic by Darkside.

WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MEMORIES THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND?
The sensation of being pleasantly overwhelmed.