Inside Ideal Hosiery on a Rainy Sunday

Sunday afternoon, we stopped into Ideal Hosiery at 339 Grand Street to pick up a few items, and haggle with the shopkeep.  Stepping off the rain-soaked sidewalk, the interior was equally musty, yet welcoming nonetheless.

But before we could grab what was needed back at Boogie HQ, a dozen or so Orthodox Jewish men entered the storefront with prayer books in hand, and began chanting.  After all, it was 2:30 pm, and time for the afternoon service (Mincha).  The cramped aisles, lined floor to ceiling with cardboard boxes, became impassable.  It was a sight to behold.

Quite unique that the storefront provides sanctuary for a collection of neighborhood Jews seeking prayer.  We were told that this is a normal occurrence at Ideal Hosiery.

The Grand Street institution (with its awesome signage) has been a family-owned business since 1950, and is currently run by Len Friedman.