Ethik Clothing Opening Flagship at Former 23 Essex Street Judaica Store

Guess the press spoke too soon regarding that ray of hope for Israel Judaica at 23 Essex Street.

The religious retail shop, definitely a dying breed in this part of the Lower East Side, had been struggling for the last few years. Changing demographics and lack of sales poisoned the well for the business, centered here on Essex for years. In early April, however, Madison Jackson developer Michael Bolla extended some ambiguous support to ownership, at the very least offering to cover rent in the coming months.

Needless to say, efforts to preserve Israel Judaica were certainly futile. The store is now closed. In its place, however, is a familiar sight. Ethik Clothing Co., the boutique which last frequented the neighborhood in March, is opening its flagship retail location here. Judging by the the caps and collateral situated in the window showcase, the controversial online threads brand seemingly learned its lesson about copyright infringement from that whole wheat-pasting ordeal during the last go-round.

The new bricks-and-mortar outpost of Ethik is currently gearing up for its launch on August 1.