We’re at the scene of the fire at 72 Hester St., the home of Mendel Goldberg Fabrics. Multiple fire departments have responded, and firefighters are breaking in the plate-glass window of the storefront as smoke pours from the building.
The fabric store, opened in 1890, is a Lower East Side icon, still run by the Goldberg family after four generations. It’s a favorite haunt of high-profile city residents, including the late Elaine Kaufman of Elaine’s restaurant.
Knew I smelled fire.