Completed in 1823 and clad in Flemish red brick, 56 Bleecker Street is located at the edge of Bond Street—one of the most exclusive enclaves in 1830s Manhattan. Once the home of Jacobus Roosevelt II, great-grandfather of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the building also housed the office of the first female physician in the United States, Dr Elizabeth Blackwell. Steeped in history, the brick facade has aged remarkably well, all things considered. Paying homage to these deep-rooted traditions—and the neighborhood that continues to support them—meet a favorite local face if you somehow haven’t already: Sabah.
Sabahs are entirely handcrafted from 100% leather in either Texas or Turkey – two regions with distinct but deep-rooted relationships with the material. The result is a shoe that differs subtly from pair to pair, even in the same size. The store customizes this shade, sometimes trying on over twenty pairs to find the right fit.
Inside, custom lighting from the next door neighbor Jill Plattner it renders each corner as a separate vignette, inviting you to linger. This is on purpose: as modern consumers, we’re used to shoes that feel comfortable right away—rarely stopping for those that require a break-in period, especially when they’re handmade. Outside of dedicated loafer enthusiasts, an all-leather shoe is becoming increasingly uncommon amid the rise of athleisure. Finding the right match, then, becomes something of a Cinderella thing – when it fits, you know.
With potential couples scattered across the floor, the space looks lined with centuries of use. Whether you’ve come to browse, shop or just sit, there’s room for everything – a bounty of aisles and merchandise that’s especially rare for the area. There’s room to relax, maybe with a coffee or a drink if it’s after five — or even before.
In a city where places to sit and linger are excellent, Sabah House offers a quiet respite. The product’s ledges double as counters, with storage underneath for extra sizes. In an age where many claim the mantle of ‘third space’, this offers – a genuine refuge from the noise.
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the bar is the heart of Sabah House NYC.
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the bar is the heart of Sabah House NYC.
With a full range of children’s sizes and a stamp mini-bar with playful, themed icons, the space is especially family-friendly—though stamps tend to appeal to everyone. Low seating invites climbing, while merchandising at multiple heights keeps the environment visually appealing from every vantage point.
Founder Mickey Ashmore – referred to locally as the “Sabah Dealer” – started selling Sabahs from his East Village apartment more than a decade ago. Each pair bears distinct maker’s marks, connecting customers directly to the hands that made them. In an age of ultra-fast fashion and growing indifference to provenance, Sabah is reviving an older paradigm—one that feels surprisingly radical today: celebrating human idiosyncrasy as a trait rather than a flaw.
Founder Mickey Ashmore – locally referred to as the Sabah Dealer—began selling Sabahs from his East Village apartment more than a decade ago. Each pair bears distinct maker’s marks, connecting customers directly to the hands that made them. In an age of ultra-fast fashion and growing indifference to provenance, Sabah is reviving an older paradigm—one that feels surprisingly radical today: celebrating human idiosyncrasy as a trait rather than a flaw.
To learn more about Sabah House NYC, visit sabah.am.
Photo courtesy of Sabah.
