LOUIS ZUFLACHT, Lower East Side

by Kevin Walsh

I don’t spend nearly enough time in the recesses of the Lower East Side, though I have done reviews of both Stanton and Rivington Streets, back in 2009. Over the years since I started FNY the LES has lost some of its infrastructural majesty, in the form of ancient painted ads and signs. There are a couple still left — one of them is the magnificent neon Louis Zuflacht sign at Stanton and Suffolk Streets; the “154” is the Stanton Street address. This sign has persisted despite Zuflacht going out of business several decades ago; tenant after tenant has moved in, and amazingly, kept the sign. In 2014 there was worry it had finally succumbed, as it was covered with a sign for an antiques store, but that was a prop for a TV show called Forever, about an unwilling immortal. (I’d be for immortality as long as someone picks up my meals, room and board and health care.) 

I haven’t gone into who Louis Zuflacht was yet. Even the Indispensable Walter Grutchfield does not mention him. However, the blogger called Brooks of Sheffield did, in his terrific Lost City, which he stopped writing in 2014 ( your webmaster, me, has no life and so FNY will continue ad infinitum). Zufrecht was a long-lived haberdasher (1883-1986) who operated the store beginning about 1940; the sign was commissioned in 1942. Zufrecht’s sons, Jack and Joe, ran the business for a time. Unfortunately, neither Brooks nor I know the precise date the store shut down.

 

I was by in January 2016, which because of the shadows, is the worst possible time to be here to take a picture, as the shadow cuts right across it. Like me, the Zuflecht sign persists, even as the decades roll on and changes like CitiBike docks pop up beside it, paying it no mind. Renters will come and go — hopefully, one will spend some dough and rewire the sign. “Smart clothes” are no longer worn; everyone except me has cargo shorts and T shirts.

Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”

11/22/17

10 comments

ron November 23, 2017 - 11:44 am

On Thanksgiving, we should thank people like the one who kept the sign as is. There are still a few people who recognize the value of interesting things from earlier eras.

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Angel Justiniano October 9, 2018 - 7:37 pm

This was an incredible store , I worked for the Zuflacht family in the early to late 60’s , the sons joe and jack took me in like family , I started as a stock clerk as they tought me the business. I learned to love men’s clothes and style, soon they put me on the floor as there 2nd top salesperson, and never forgot them ever, the father Louie was in his early 80’s I those days , when ever I visit the neighborhood I must walk by Stanton and Suffolk just to reminisce

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Kathleen Bell November 6, 2018 - 2:32 pm

I am cleaning out some “stuff”. I have a wooden hanger with the advertisement for this store on it.
At the top it says GOOD CLOTHES DRY DOCK 4-3726
On the two sides LOUIS ZUFLACHT and 160 STANTON ST.,N.Y.C.
Do you want it or know where I can send it? It is so much a part of the NY history!

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Lucy Hughes January 25, 2019 - 1:58 pm

Mr. Justiniano, do you have any photos of the store when it was open? Im an interested neighbor. Thanks, Lucy

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D vukek March 11, 2019 - 9:17 pm

I have a hanger also same as comment above. Louis Zuflacht 160 Stanton St. NYC.

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thomas thurnauer September 30, 2019 - 7:01 pm

Hello,
Just came across this. My girlfriend at the time purchased the building and we lived together for a short time together there. This must have been around 1987 or 88. I remember coming across a box of labels featuring the stores name and info in classic 1920’s style. Glad to see the sign still intact!

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robert kopf December 12, 2019 - 9:45 am

Louis ZUFLACHT, as most people called him “Zee” was my grandfather, my mother’s father.
My own father was a CPA who did the stores books so we were at the store almost every weekend.
Louis was born in 1882 and came to the USA from Austria around 1896 or 1897 as a young boy alone. He started as a tailor apprentice and stayed with that profession all his life. He died in 1986 at 104 years old.
He was in amazing health up until the last year or two.
About 10 years ago we dropped by the store and gave the then owner pictures of my grandfather as a present for maintaining that wonderful Art Deco sign. The building changed hands a number of times and was an art studio, an art gallery and even a place for musicians and bands to practice down stairs in the basement, which is carved out of bedrock.
A fabulous building.
When the neighborhood changed before it became regentrified my uncles could not maintain the store or pay the taxes so they merely left the building to the city who sold it off for about $3350,000 a few decades ago.
The woman who we met paid about $1,500,000 and I think she was the third or fourth owner.
Not sure where she is .
I would love for someone to confirm the sign is still there.

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Anonymous February 19, 2020 - 7:18 pm

I just walked past this sign and immediately looked up the name. What an amazing story the sign is there right now and looking beautiful. Hopefully this piece of history remains preserved. I took some pictures which are a bit clearer than the ones above

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Barbara Smith March 4, 2021 - 5:38 pm

My dad uncle and all the men in family even out of tow nets were brought here to shop. Why do I remember so many s shopping trips here as a young girl. Of course we went to. Katz’s deli after. I’m sure all the cousins Bar Mitzvah suits. Came from there as well. Tysm for this blast from the past

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Louis E. December 19, 2021 - 11:16 pm

I became aware of this location entirely because I was a devoted fan of the “Forever” TV series…since it was cancelled I have been to the site several times,always finding it empty but with the Zuflacht sign in clear view…the most recent occasion being today.(There are some tables inside but it’s dark).

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