Here are some recent openings on the Lower East Side. This article first appeared in the September 2014 issue of The Lo-Down’s print magazine.
Billykirk (16 Orchard St.): Started in 1999 by brothers Chris and Kirk Bray, Billykirk began in Los Angeles as a leather wholesale design company; the LES location is the company’s first retail space. Specializing in belts, bags and wallets, the brand now partners with three U.S.-based manufacturers and ships its products around the world. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Sabit NYC (43 Clinton St.): Headed by Japanese designer Shoichi Amemiya, this boutique aims to bring Tokyo flavor to urban hip-hop-inspired clothing. In its nine years, the brand has attracted attention from high-profile clients like Juelz Santana, Chris Brown and Swizz Beatz. In Japanese “sabit” refers to the hook, or catchiest part, of a song; the clothing brand keeps that in mind with its playful, bold designs. The Clinton Street store is its second in New York and was scheduled to open in late August. Store hours are tentatively set for 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Sunday, but are subject to change.
Dream Come True K9 (174 Attorney St.): Veteran dog trainer and Lower East Side native Blake Rodriguez, who founded his company in 2010, has opened a storefront space offering private and group classes to help city dog owners. Services include walking, boarding and behavioral training programs. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday. (After hours, check out the work of street artists Fumero and Vandal Expressionism, who painted the gates.)
Waka Waka Arcade (26 Clinton St.): Geared toward game developers, this incubator, coworking and event space is the new neighborhood spot for collaborative game design. Waka Waka is located in a bright, open 2,000-square-foot space and is accepting membership applications for those who would like to work and play there. The lobby, featuring the arcade game Killer Queen, is open to the public from 3 to 8 p.m.
Green Gate Cleaners (179 Orchard St.): This “environmentally safe, green dry cleaners” and laundry opened in July. Services include standard laundry and organic dry cleaning along with shirt presses. They ask clients to return their hangers in order to “reduce, reuse and recycle.” Green Gate is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Tokyo Rebel (158 Allen St.) After closing its Avenue B store two years ago, this Japanese punk clothing boutique is back in the neighborhood. The new location opened in mid-July, providing the Lower East Side with all the frilly Goth street fashion it needs. Store hours are 1 to 8 p.m. six days a week. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Written by Viviane Eng.
