“Civilianaire” Replaces Bodega with Trendy Denim at 55 East Houston

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The trade was inevitable, and most certainly lopsided; necessity is being exchanged for luxury at 55 East Houston. In this case, a bodega for high-end denim.

For awhile there, a war was brewing over the fate of this storefront. The beloved La Cocina Deli that had called the corner of Mott home for many years had provided an invaluable service to those who lived and worked in the vicinity. As we’ve been following, the joint shuttered forever at the end of 2011, at which point the brown paper arrived. Locals mourned the loss of this lifeblood and penned their anger onto the paper. It was a custom that continued well into the plywood reign.

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But all that is now ancient history. The shed was removed a couple months ago, revealing a spiffy new storefront with plenty of glass. And there it sat, taunting the neighborhood with its newfound makeover. All revved up with no place to go. That changed yesterday with the placement of teaser banners in the windows. Behold the arrival of the California-based Civilianaire. Quite a gaudy name, no? Well, as you might expect, the gear is priced to match. Jeans from the year-old boutique will cost you at least two hundred apiece.

Necessity for luxury, people.