Customer at the sock stand on Astor Place (Photo: Daniel Hoffman)
We were bereaved last month when The Sock Man’s awning came down for good after 33 years on St. Marks Place. But what’s this? This morning we spotted a new sock man selling $2 tube socks, beanies and chullos on Astor Place, a block away from the old Sock Man’s location. Totally tubular! With spring just around the corner, it might be his time to shine.
(Photo by Kavitha Surana)
The story of Mamoun’s had a happy ending, but not so for another St. Marks Place institution. Marty “The Sock Man” Rosen is shuttering his doors this Friday, January 15. Today, we caught up with the beloved grump, who confirmed rumors of the closing and told us he’d been socked with a rent hike.
“This is the East Village,” he said, in the midst of rearranging the funky socks and tights he has long sold to everyone from neighborhood punks to Chloe Sevigny. “I don’t want to leave this block. As bad as it is, I don’t want to leave. I don’t know what to do.” He’ll be looking for a new space, but in the meantime you can still order online.