A couple of weeks ago we wrote about the departure of another Essex Street institution, Zelig Blumenthal. After almost 60 years on the Lower East Side, the torah scribe and Judaica shop vacated its iconic 13 Essex storefront, relocating to Brooklyn.
In the past day, we’ve exchanged emails with Mordechai Blumenthal, who runs the business now. After our story, he received calls from customers asking for more information.
Blumenthal asked us to pass along his new location, 959 East 27th Street in Flatbush. The phone number is 212-673-3837. And, as we noted in our earlier story, you can find more information on Zelig Blumenthal’s web site, torahsplus.com.
Blumenthal said he moved for two reasons. First, as more and more Orthodox Jewish customers left the neighborhood, foot traffic dwindled to a point that it didn’t make much sense for him to stay put. Second, he said, the new landlord made it very clear they wanted him gone…
According to city records, 13 Essex (along with 85 Baxter Street) was sold in March of this year to Green Leaf Associates LLC. The previous owner, whose address is listed as 95 Delancey, was paid $11 million for both buildings. Blumenthal said the new owner had no interest in making a deal. He simply asked, “how much time do you need to move out?” What are Green Leaf’s plans for 13 Essex? No clues yet on the Buildings Department web site. We will, of course, attempt to contact the company to see what they have to say…
One more note. 95 Delancey, the previous owner’s address, happens to be the headquarters for controversial Lower East Side landlord Baruch Singer.
