Japanese Fashion Purveyor ‘Tokyo Rebel’ Shutters Allen Street Store
Tokyo Rebel just lost the battle. The Japanese-style fashion retailer shuttered its Allen Street store earlier this month, concluding a Lower East Side residency of nearly four years.
Founded nine years ago by husband-wife duo Jeff and Masayo Williams (he’s American, she’s Japanese), Tokyo Rebel maintained a brief stint in Alphabet City from 2009 to 2011, then moved down to Allen Street. The company peddles popular “underground Japanese street fashion,” with brands sourced from Osaka and the Harajuku district of Tokyo. Until now, ownership claimed that 158 Allen was the only such store in New York City.
According to its website, Tokyo Rebel will continue selling goods online.
This particular loss is proof positive that the eastern block of Allen Street just above Rivington is basically a retail no mans land. Not much survives along this stretch. As we speak, five commercial spaces now sit empty, each with token leasing banners in the windows. The majority of which have been vacant for more than a year.
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