New York City man asks woman on the street if she wants a designer bag. Then she follows him into an alley: ‘Girl I watch too much Dateline for this’
Just when you think New York City has exhausted all its side quests, another one pops up, similar to a true-crime cold open. Except instead of a true-crime ending, the “secret” back room has very convincing Gucci and Louis Vuitton wallets appearing like contraband party favors. TikTok, however, is torn between “girl, absolutely not” and “OK but… how much?” Because, against all instincts and stranger-danger training, this viral story has some people wanting those luxurious goodies.
The ‘Secret’ Back Room…What is It?
Mary Keene Marrs (@marykeenegolf) has piqued the interest of 1 million viewers with her seven-second clip on TikTok. Her video starts by showing a man rifling through a chest of drawers. The next clip pans to a collection of Gucci and Louis Vuitton wallets showcased on what seems to be a couch.
The text overlay reads, “Some guy on canal street is going to ask you if you want designer handbag then have you follow him into a secret room. it’s very important you follow him into that room.” The caption stresses it even more: “It’s important you go into the secret back room.”
What’s the Hype Around Canal Street?
If you’re not well-versed in the business of buying knock-offs, that’s OK. The Local Artisan Guide posted a blog in 2024 explaining the entire world of counterfeit bags in New York. Canal Street has been popular with tourists for years, but recently, the counterfeit market has stepped up. Many people want to own designer items, but no one wants to pay the steep price. This is where Canal Street offers a better alternative.
These knock-off items look nearly identical and cost much less, leading more people to buy them. Back in 2018, The Fashion Law spoke of this sentiment.
“…Given the ever-increasing rate of technological advancements and growing level of skill in the manufacturing sphere (especially in China), it should come as little surprise that it is becoming increasingly difficult – even for experts – to distinguish between authentic goods and counterfeit ones,” the article stated.
The Local Artisan Guide blog continues to explore the reality and behind-the-scenes that occur when engaging with this type of consumerism. Mainly, child labor. It also discusses how police raids have made the sellers more discreet, more than often hiding the counterfeit items in a back room somewhere. This might have been the case that Mary experienced. Just five days ago, the New York Post released an article where police officers raided and confiscated counterfeit items from the sellers. Based off Mary’s TikTok, this might be the reason for the “secrecy.”
@marykeenegolf It’s important you go into the secret back room #fyp #canalstreet #nyc #backroom #designer ♬ original sound – ???? ?☀️
Viewers Say ‘Yikes’
The most pressing issue for many of the viewers? The danger. One viewer says, “Girl I watch too much Dateline for this.” Another adds, “*results may vary.*”
A third viewer shares, “To my real New Yorkers, never follow a stranger ‘into a secret room,'” while another one says, “With my luck there won’t be no handbags and get kidnapped.”
Others don’t see the appeal at all. One viewer says, “Why for a fake bag? Secret room….could be the happy ending you didn’t want. Buy real! Or don’t buy at all.”
Another viewer shares, “Anything but buy the real stuff.” Another viewer responds: “Not spending over 1k on a bag when I can get a good rep an average person is not going to know if it’s fake.”
This leads to other viewers on Mary’s side, saying they would have and have done the same. One says, “The sketchier it is, the better the product.”
“As someone whose been in many back rooms on Canal Street, it’s the safest you’ll be,” one added.
The Mary Sue reached out to Mary via TikTok direct message.
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