We just received word that another vendor is leaving the Essex Street Market. Partners Catherine Oddenino of ice cream purveyor Luca & Bosco will shut down her space at the north end of the market after this coming Sunday.
She and Ruthie Vishlitzky opened their Lower East Side location in 2013. Oddenino tells us they’ll be focusing on catering and wholesale while looking for a retail space where the small business can offer an expanded menu and stay open later.
In the past, the owners have been very clear about their frustrations with operations of the Essex Street Market. They pushed for later hours (past 7 p.m.), since not many people eat ice cream for breakfast. While their landlord, the Economic Development Corp., recently extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays, it was too little too late.
Earlier this year, Brooklyn Taco, Heritage Meat and Essex Flowers all closed their stalls — citing declining foot traffic and meager marketing efforts to reverse the trend. Just this past weekend, Puebla Mexican Food took over the Brooklyn Taco space.
Luca & Bosco will be open tomorrow through Sunday if you’d like to stop by for one last scoop.
Maybe they would have been more successful if they were EVER open