You can say so long to American Apparel on the Lower East Side.
After 11 years at 183 East Houston St., the financially troubled retailer has shuttered another Manhattan store. Crate paper went up over the display windows — inventory has been carted away. Signs on the door read, “Sorry, we’re closed” and “Please visit our nearby locations” at 704 Broadway and 121 Spring St.
Early this month, American Apparel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but hoped to keep its 130 U.S. stores open. On October 1, West Side Rag reported that the location at 73rd Street and Broadway closed. Industry publications have noted that the company would likely be selective about which New York stores to shutter, since most all of them are prime retail locations that could be enticing to potential corporate suitors.
The LES store, located at East Houston and Orchard Streets, obviously fits into that category. The property is owned by Serge Hoyda, one of the neighborhood’s biggest landlords. The space is right across the street from Ben Shaoul’s new 10-story residential and commercial project at 196 Orchard St. An Equinox fitness club has already signed on for 30,000 sq. ft. in that building.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m. A spokesperson for American Apparel reached out with this statement:
This store closure is a next step in implementing our previously announced turnaround plan, which includes closing underperforming locations and investing in new stores in promising areas.
