Moishe’s Closes! Sign Says “For Renovation”?

It’s Ash Wednesday, and the Lower East Side will reportedly be giving up another cultural holdout, Moishe’s Kosher Bake Shop on 2nd Ave. Moishe’s is rumored to have started on Houston in the late 1960’s before moving to its location at 115 Second Avenue in the mid-70’s, meaning that it has been in operation for close to 50 years in one form or another. While Moishe Perl seems to have indicated to various people that the business is closed, by the time I got to Moishe’s myself a little while ago, brown paper covered the windows and door, and a sign placed in the window read “Closed for renovation, reopen as soon as possible, special order please call owner (347) 203-9842”. When I called the number, Moishe Perl picked up the phone, but wouldn't give a clear answer to what the future of the building was before the call cut out.

The last interaction I had with Moishe was at the end of last week when I stopped by for the umpteenth time in recent months to buy hamantaschen and ask if there was any news. He seemed to dismiss the idea that the building sold and the business was moving; "Every day...is a day" he said, "Why, do you want to buy it?" I told him I wish I could –– he wished me abi gezunt and went to the back room.

E.V. Grieve is now reporting that Mr. Perl's son may be a candidate to open up a cafe/bakery of some sort –– I would imagine, though, that the fate of the building is ultimately in the hands of its new owner, Jay Schwimmer. Perhaps the sign on the door is in-part an attempt to manifest a future in which Moishe's legacy remains, and for now, despite my deep sadness, I'll keep hoping as well.

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A Hidden Lower East Side

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