Universal Gear closing both D.C. and New York locations
Popular clothing store has been a mainstay of the local LGBT community for over two decades.
Universal Gear, a men’s clothing store with locations in Washington’s 14th Street corridor and in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, has confirmed the store will be closing.
As part of the closing process, the company will be offering a closing “everything must go” sale at both stores, says Yeme Mengistu, director of operations at Universal Gear’s D.C. store. The D.C. store is slated to permanently shutter its doors on July 24, with the Hell’s Kitchen location following on Aug. 14.
News of the closing first broke over social media, after the local blog Borderstan reposted a Tweet from Jonathan Pinkerton depicting the 14th Street location with a “store closing” sign in its front window. The company also sent out an email to its most loyal customers announcing the sale, which will continue “until every item is sold.”
“It’s the end of an era,” says Menistu. “We love everyone and thank them for their support over the past 23 years.”
Universal’s Gear’s website is also no longer operational, featuring only a splash page.
According to once source, the retail space of approximately 5,000 square feet has been on the market for six months, though another source says it’s been quietly on the market for up to two years.
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