This roundup of new businesses first appeared in the April 2015 edition of our print magazine.
All My Children Daycare & Nursery School (112 Ridge St., -at Stanton Street) After opening last fall, the new child care center up the block from P.S. 142 is acclimating to the neighborhood. There was an open house last month, giving parents a chance to tour the newly renovated space and talk with staff members. All My Children, which also has multiple locations in Queens and Brooklyn, is eco-friendly. Several eight-foot terrariums offer children the chance to explore various plant life and to indulge their curiosity. In addition to the 5,000-square-foot indoor facility, there’s a secure backyard. The private daycare and preschool offers programs for children between 6 months and 5 years. There will be a summer program for preschoolers. To inquire about the school’s “developmentally appropriate” educational curriculum, contact Executive Director Laurie Shaked at 718-730-2370. A second open house will be held 11 a.m.–4 p.m. May 2.
Askan Menswear (151 Orchard St., -at Stanton Street) An upscale online menswear retailer opened last month in a small storefront next to Reed Space, the trailblazing streetwear brand. Askan was founded in 2013, its website explains, “out of a passion to make distinct tailored clothing for men more accessible.” Prices for blazers start at around $300, while shirts start at about $125.
Coss Athletics (38 Delancey St., -at Forsyth Street) Personal trainer Coss Marte recently opened a studio on the Lower East Side devoted to prison-style boot camp workouts. In his case, the programs are no gimmick. Marte was sentenced to seven years in prison after becoming a drug kingpin on the Lower East Side. While behind bars, he developed a workout regimen that helped him lose 70 pounds in six months. To say Marte has turned things around would be an understatement. He now has hundreds of private clients and offers 15 classes a week.
Green Fingers (5 Rivington St. -near Bowery) Satoshi Kawamoto moved his floral design studio from East 1st Street last month to a new spot on Rivington Street. After establishing multiple stores in Japan and becoming a prolific author, Kawamoto came to New York to establish his unique brand of garden styling in the U.S.
Tokyobike (1 Prince St. -at Bowery) The lightweight, custom-fit bikes are available for the first time outside Japan with the opening of this retail store, the first of its kind in the United States. Dean Di Simone ended up partnering with the company to bring Tokyobike stateside after being stymied in his efforts to purchase one of the sleek, high performance models a few years ago.
