Way back in October of 1984 Eric Bennett, a young penguin fanatic and recent college grad from Queens N.Y. filled out an application (on a dare) to open a penguin themed pushcart at the recently opened South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan. Knowing a good idea when they saw one the Seaport jumped at the opportunity to be the home of Eric's all-penguin paraphernalia pushcart, and so on March 15th, 1985 Next Stop South Pole opened its doors for the first time. The first item sold at 11:08 that chilly historic morning was a box of penguin band-aids for $1.95 to a woman with blisters on her feet  from a pair of ill fitting high heel shoes. More than likely the fact that the band aids had penguins on them was unimportant to the young lady, she just needed some band aids, but first is first and the rest as they say, is penguin retail history. By 1986 Eric had moved his penguin operation from a push cart to a 285 square foot kiosk (pictured above) in the Seaports historic Fulton Market Building, and then a year later NSSP doubled in size to a proper shop in the Seaports new Pier 17 complex (pictured below).  A year later a sister Next Stop South Pole shop opened at the Inner Harbor (Harborplace) complex in Baltimore Maryland, and 1987 also marked the launching the Next Stop South Pole's first All-Penguin Mail Order Catalog.

As the years went on it became apparent to Eric that lots of people either really liked penguins or knew someone who did, and Next Stop South Pole would not be just another fly (even though penguins can't) by night operation.  The penguin inventory grew from a few dozen penguins on the push cart to 300+ different waddlers, and the NSSP catalog went from a black and white copy machine handout to an 8 page color glossy with a mailing list that spanned the world. On the day of NSSP's 10th anniversary in 1995 Eric took another unprecidented step (waddle) as he self published  the first issue of The Penguin Post, an all-penguin news, information and entertainment publication with no particular parameters, that was intended for like minded penguin lovers and collectors like himself. The newsletter would tackle topics as diverse as penguin themed stamp collecting, penguins in advertising, penguins in music, or major, minor and amature sports teams with penguin logos, as well as stories about actual penguins in the natural world.  The Penguin Post would eventually publish 22 issues over the next 6 years, garnering over a 1,000 subscribers on every continent (including Antarctica).  Sadly, it become a victim of it's own success, as the Post simply became too big for Eric to continue publishing in a print edition. "As much as I loved writing The Post, the writing part was easy but between the cost of printing, and the time it took for folding, collating, stuffing the envelopes, addressing, stamping, then mailing, and keeping up with subscriptions, it was simply too huge a job for a one man operation.  Sadly, in 2002 Eric ceased publication of the Post, but  he has vowed to resume publishing the Penguin Post on-line, and if you waddle over the Penguin Post Section of this website, you'll be happy to see The Penguin Post On-Line.

                                                                                                                        In 1997 a new era literally began for Next Stop South Pole with the launching of our Penguin Place website.  Now with a flipper on the pulse of the bergeoning  virtual penguin world, the combination of the positive on-line response with rising rents at the Seaport led Eric to waddle in the direction of going exclusively on-line.    The NYC Next Stop South Pole finally closed  it doors in June of 1999, and the Baltimore shop followed suit a year later later.  Eric then moved his entire penguin rookery to its present day location, a fifth floor 900 square foot loft in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood overlooking the Manhattan Bridge that is affectionately known as  "The Igloo".  In 2008 the Penguin Place website was finally revamped, and today Eric is assisted part time by his two daughters Sophie and Rose who also think penguins are cool.  On June 1st 200, Eric, his family and all of Penguin Place waddled 150 north to beautiful Northampton, Mass.

In the 24 plus years Eric has stayed true to his passion and has never offered up a non penguin item for sale, and claims to have never met a penguin or penguin lover he didn't like.

My order came yesterday. I couldn't believe it got here so fast! I love the penguin. Almost want to keep it for myself instead of giving it to my grandson for Christmas but I know that it will be his favorite present. hanks so much. You have a great store.

     Happy Holidays,
 April

I have ordered from your store over the past 5-7 years and just wanted to say thank you for such wonderful customer service & good quality products. Its always a pleasure doing business with you.

     Thanks again,
 Pamela Gladish




My order came yesterday. I couldn't believe it got here so fast! I love the penguin. Almost want to keep it for myself instead of giving it to my grandson for Christmas but I know that it will be his favorite present. hanks so much. You have a great store.

     Happy Holidays,
 April




Who knew penguins could fly!I just wanted to let you know I received my order today onTuesday that I placed on Saturday, super fast shipping!!Your site is by far the greatest penguin source out there.Ever since I found your site, Ihave beenable to provide my penguin loving girlfriend new and different presents every holiday/birthday.It is always a pleasure to do business with you, keep up the great work.

     -David T.


 Thanks so much for the order. I have never received an order so quickly! The items are great and it will really make our penguin party extra special. Glad we found your website, I will share it with our friends.

     S. Cook




Eric,

 I ordered the penguin umbrella earlier this week and it arrived today.

 I'm thrilled to bits with it! I was really impressed with how well you packed it, (bamboo? Ah yes, so it doesn't get squished !). I am very disappointed with one thing though, it's such a beautiful sunny day, I can't use it!

 I will certainly continue to order waddling delights from you. You have such a great web-site with lots of great stuff!

     Thanks a bunch!

 Jasmine




Hi Eric,

 Thank you again for letting us drop by. It really did make our time away special getting to see the all the penguins even if it was for a short period due to our taxi issue. Anyway the two new guys have settled in with rest of the collection as can be seen on the photo.

     Thanks again
 James & Jayne