For decades, this storefront at 43 Essex St. was home to G & S Sporting Goods, a boxing supplies store owned by the Zerling family. Now it’s about to take on new life as I Love Kickboxing, a nationwide chain of fitness studios.
According to Real Estate Weekly, Eastern Consolidated has completed a deal with the company for 3,000 square feet on the ground floor and basement of the tenement building just below Grand Street. I Love Kickboxing has 100 stores in all 50 states, as well as international locations in Colombia, Canada and Peru. It’s a 15-year lease.
The building was sold in 2014 after Len Zerling became ill and retired. The new owner, Dean Galasso, was arrested this past spring and indicted by the state attorney general in an alleged mortgage fraud scheme. According to public records the case is still pending. Residential tenants took Galasso to court, as well, claiming harassment and later settled with their new property owner.
