The Countdown to Moscot's Orchard Street Move: Ten Days!

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A moving date has been set for Moscot's relocation to one corner of Orchard Street to another: after 77 years at 118 Orchard Street, Moscot will relocate to 108 Orchard Street on May 22nd. The company has been busy prepping for the switch—one that the Times notes is reflective of the LES as a whole:

Moscot's move involves the shortest of distances. But it tells the story of the Lower East Side's evolution—from Jewish immigrant pushcarts to postwar waves of African-Americans and Latinos, from drug ravages in the 1970s and 1980s to bohemian gentrification, from retro-friendly hipsters to the inevitable real estate developers. The store's signature chunky frames, once prized as functional and inexpensive, now fill a niche compatible with fixed-gear bicycles and vinyl LPs—and with the celebrities who fill its website.

The 78-year-old Joel Moscot remembers when the neighborhood was a lot grittier: "People were all drugged up, they lost their glasses. One guy lost six pairs in one month."

In a press release sent out today, Harvey Moscot elaborated on the relocation: "Our move across Delancey Street means more to us than just opening a new Shop—it's our way of keeping Moscot where it was born and where it belongs for the next generation of fans, friends and family. There are so few family businesses left in New York City, let alone fourth generation businesses operating in the same place. To help keep tradition alive is truly an honor."

To celebrate, Moscot will throw a party on May 23rd from 7pm to 9pm, with a 15% discount offered from 6pm to close. The release adds that that's "something that won't likely happen again for another 77 and a half years."
· Moscot Is Making a Big Move, Across the Street [NYT]
· Moscot Is Moving From One Orchard Street Corner to Another [Racked NY]
· All Moscot Coverage [Racked NY]