“We are excited to be a part of the Essex Street Market and look forward to becoming a part of this vibrant, energetic and diverse downtown neighborhood.”

- Tim Forrester, Harlem and Essex Shambles Co-founder

Essex Shambles is the expansion of popular neighborhood butcher, Harlem Shambles. In 2011, Harlem Shambles opened and quickly became a destination and favorite among locals. Like Harlem Shambles, Essex Shambles will be an old-fashioned butcher shop serving locally sourced beef, lamb, pork and poultry. They will continue to maintain their commitment to establishing the shop as a valued part of the community, and work with a handful of New York farms to bring customers all-natural meat they can feel good about. Essex Shambles will embrace the whole-animal philosophy, and their customer-friendly butchers will provide the freshest cuts, cut to order with minimal waste.

“Essex Market made perfect sense to us because our family has had a long history in the downtown Chinatown/Lower East Side/Little Italy area.”

- Christina Seid, owner of the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (CICF) has been creating delicious ice cream for 4 decades on Bayard Street in Chinatown, and is often referred to as an "unofficial NYC landmark.” CICF has a deep tradition of being a family-run operation, now with a second generation at the helm. The origins of ice cream are both mythical and abstract, including legends attributing the invention of ice cream to the Chinese during the Tang Dynasty. Despite its unclear beginnings, CICF has made ice cream a tangible and an undeniably delicious reality with unique flavors like black sesame, durian, and green tea.

"The long history of the original Essex Street Market on the LES, coupled with the community and social goals of the new market makes this a dream project for us to play a part in.”

- Eli and Max Sussman, owners of Samesa

Samesa is a contemporary Middle Eastern takeaway counter from chef/owners and brothers Max and Eli Sussman. Inspired by the small falafel shops, halal trucks and Middle Eastern restaurants in Detroit, the brothers serve fresh and vibrant dishes such as Chicken Shawarma, Zucchini Fritters, and an array of dips such as Avocado Hummus with Cilantro.

“As an ardent herbalist, I welcome this opportunity to introduce the community to the wonderful and healing virtues of plants.”

- Lata Chettrei-Kennedy, owner of Flower Power Herbs and Roots

Flower Power Herbs and Roots is an herbal apothecary shop established in 1993 in the East Village. The store offers a wide range of dried herbs and extracts for culinary, medicinal and beauty uses.

“We hope to continue working with the community and bringing our personal approach to floral design to an already diverse and historic neighborhood.”

- Kana Togashi, owner of Saffron

Saffron is a florist that was established in Fort Greene, Brooklyn in October 2009. They specialize in unique arrangements informed by their team’s experience with the arts, and also sell handmade goods produced by local artists.

“Launching Local Line by Exit9 at the new Essex Street Market is an amazing opportunity. Local Line will be our fun, locally-focused shop with a subtle message about the power of shopping local.”

- Charles Branstool, owner of Exit9 and Local Line

Local Line by Exit9 is a new local-focused retail concept from Exit9 Gift Emporium, an East Village independent shop since 1995. Local Line will feature locally-made and designed gifts, food, mementos and gift boxes that will appeal to New Yorkers and tourists alike.

“Growing up in Williamsburg, I would often accompany my Grandmother as she moved from stall to stall shopping on Essex Street, so it is with a great deal of excitement and pride that we are able to build out our business under the new Essex Street Market roof.”

- Laura O’Brien, founder and head chef at Josephine’s Feast!

Josephine’s Feast! is a New York City based maker of delicious jams and preserves. The Josephine’s collection includes marmalades, fruit butters, chutneys, spice rubs and blends, natural sea salts, granola, heirloom cakes and gift collections. Traditionally only sold at farmer’s markets in the NYC area, the New Essex Street Market will give Josephine’s Feast! the opportunity to open its first year-round shop in a fixed location.

"As owners of Sugar Sweet Sunshine, we have worked to stay true to the same values as the Essex Market; being accessible to all members of this community and owner-operated, face-to-face customer service.”

- Debra Weiner and Peggy Williams, owners of Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Sugar Sweet Sunshine is a New York City based cupcake and sweets shop founded by Peggy Williams and Debra Weiner on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 2003. They are excited to share their baked goods with new and old residents of the Lower East Side neighborhood.

“For years, the Lower East Side community was home to my first restaurant, Zerza. So when thinking about where to build my next concept, the neighborhood was a natural first choice.”

- Radouane Eljaouhari, founder of Zerza

Zerza is a vibrant new fast-causal concept from Radouane Eljaouhari, the creator of a beloved Lower East Side Moroccan spot by the same name. Zerza will feature whole-food, plant based ingredients and organically sourced meats with Moroccan spices and Mediterranean extra virgin olive oils. To further promote healthy living, Eljaouhari plans to allocate part of his proceeds to support community programs and kids races organized by local running clubs.

“This year Roni-Sue's Chocolates will celebrate our 11th anniversary by coming full circle, returning to our roots in the Essex Market -- we're so excited to be a part of this unique community of merchants again!”

- Rhonda Kave, owner of Roni-Sue’s Chocolates

Roni-Sue’s Chocolates is a chocolate and sweet company founded by Rhonda Kave in 2007 on New York City’s Lower East Side. Roni-Sue’s Chocolates was formally located inside the current Essex Street Market at 120 Essex Street, and is excited to join the community of vendors and partners at the new space for the market.