There were two locations at the time I was there- do you mean the newer location when it was Arnell Group or the old one when it was Arnell Bickfird? I can approximate it for the old one. I can nail the new (now defunct) one if I use google maps.
I worked for Arnell straight out of art college. As a young woman his treatment of me was abhorrent- humiliating, exhausting, confusing (he called me a communist once). He was all the things described. While I found him to be talented at selling a sleek image it felt all very superficial. His wife/partner was mean, his subordinates were trying to survive so would step on anyone lower down to look better. His friends were fancy and rolled their eyes at his ridiculous behavior- André Leon Talley for example. Peter though was repulsive in every way imaginable behind the scenes. There were many people at the firm that were kind and helpful and funny and nice- and I’m glad I got to share a workplace with them. With all that said I was a nobody there and left early enough not to have felt utterly destroyed. I literally quit so I could keep my self esteem. After a particularly awful berating which probably had nothing to do with me I sat on the floor of an empty dark office (the transition to the newer office on Prince had yet to be complete) and held my knees to my chest for a bit and then after a while got up and gave my notice. It’s been 3 decades. I never regret doing that. And now it’s a kind of fond memory of can you believe that shit? story for my kids. If I ever saw Peter in person I’m pretty sure I would tell him to his face he’s an asshole. I doubt he would disagree.
He never did anything like that to me, and in fact, was a real mensch once when he probably should have fired me. On the other hand, writers didn't present an attack surface he understood, so I think he left us alone. Designers, however, were tortured. I remember him trying to bully Lucy Sisman, who was cool, and British, and as far as I could tell, made of titanium.
Do you happen to remember the address of the office, or the cross streets? I have a kid living in SoHo now, and I'd like, perhaps, to show her where Dad worked some day. DM me if you'd like.
Peter and I both worked for one of the biggest assholes who may have ever graced the tech industry. We hated him and, on more than one occasion, spoke openly of killing him. He was focused on only two things - moving our company to the next level and self-aggrandizement. He was successful at both.
I still despise the man, yet I refer to what I learned from him about making successful companies weekly. I often wonder if he being an asshole was a necessary prerequisite for achieving that success or if achieving that success gave him the liberty to be that asshole.
I'll respectfully disagree. Being passionate about your work, the product, the company, whatever, is no justification for treating people cruelly. People can do great work without being belittled, abused, humiliated, etc. and I don't know that it's helpful to elevate those who have been successful assholes. Life and work can be hard enough--why should we celebrate jerks along the way?
I'm just not that tough or resilient I guess. Abusing me sends me going the other way. Ass and elbows disappearing. Maybe I got enough meanness in my family when I was young.
100 Grand Street- if you google it it looks absolutely the same as in the early 90’s.
There were two locations at the time I was there- do you mean the newer location when it was Arnell Group or the old one when it was Arnell Bickfird? I can approximate it for the old one. I can nail the new (now defunct) one if I use google maps.
I was in the one that used to be a shoulder-pad factory. It was Arnell Bickford.
I worked for Arnell straight out of art college. As a young woman his treatment of me was abhorrent- humiliating, exhausting, confusing (he called me a communist once). He was all the things described. While I found him to be talented at selling a sleek image it felt all very superficial. His wife/partner was mean, his subordinates were trying to survive so would step on anyone lower down to look better. His friends were fancy and rolled their eyes at his ridiculous behavior- André Leon Talley for example. Peter though was repulsive in every way imaginable behind the scenes. There were many people at the firm that were kind and helpful and funny and nice- and I’m glad I got to share a workplace with them. With all that said I was a nobody there and left early enough not to have felt utterly destroyed. I literally quit so I could keep my self esteem. After a particularly awful berating which probably had nothing to do with me I sat on the floor of an empty dark office (the transition to the newer office on Prince had yet to be complete) and held my knees to my chest for a bit and then after a while got up and gave my notice. It’s been 3 decades. I never regret doing that. And now it’s a kind of fond memory of can you believe that shit? story for my kids. If I ever saw Peter in person I’m pretty sure I would tell him to his face he’s an asshole. I doubt he would disagree.
He never did anything like that to me, and in fact, was a real mensch once when he probably should have fired me. On the other hand, writers didn't present an attack surface he understood, so I think he left us alone. Designers, however, were tortured. I remember him trying to bully Lucy Sisman, who was cool, and British, and as far as I could tell, made of titanium.
Do you happen to remember the address of the office, or the cross streets? I have a kid living in SoHo now, and I'd like, perhaps, to show her where Dad worked some day. DM me if you'd like.
Peter and I both worked for one of the biggest assholes who may have ever graced the tech industry. We hated him and, on more than one occasion, spoke openly of killing him. He was focused on only two things - moving our company to the next level and self-aggrandizement. He was successful at both.
I still despise the man, yet I refer to what I learned from him about making successful companies weekly. I often wonder if he being an asshole was a necessary prerequisite for achieving that success or if achieving that success gave him the liberty to be that asshole.
I'll respectfully disagree. Being passionate about your work, the product, the company, whatever, is no justification for treating people cruelly. People can do great work without being belittled, abused, humiliated, etc. and I don't know that it's helpful to elevate those who have been successful assholes. Life and work can be hard enough--why should we celebrate jerks along the way?
I'm just not that tough or resilient I guess. Abusing me sends me going the other way. Ass and elbows disappearing. Maybe I got enough meanness in my family when I was young.