NEW YORK — Moscot is synonymous with New York City’s Lower East Side. Founded over 100 years ago, the brand is still at home in the neighborhood with fourth generation CEO Harvey Moscot at the helm.
“We’re proud of our quality, our craftsmanship and the optical expertise we provide to our customers every day,” Harvey says.
Founded by Harvey’s great-grandfather Hyman, Moscot began as a humble pushcart on Orchard Street. With help from his son Sol, Hyman went on to open the brand’s first storefront on Rivington Street. Later, the shop relocated back to Orchard Street and eventually settled into its current address at 94 Orchard.
“We were born on Orchard Street, we will die on Orchard Street,” Harvey explains. “It’s deeply ingrained in our heritage, our history and it’s who we are.”
Understandably, remaining a family-owned business for over 100 years is another part of Moscot’s heritage that Harvey takes great pride in.
“It’s extremely meaningful to be a fourth generation member of my family’s business. Getting to work with the fifth generation, my son Zack, is what makes it fun.”
Zack Moscot joined the family business in 2013, bringing a background in industrial design to his current role as Chief Design Officer.
Focused on designs that are classic and timeless, Zack finds inspiration in all different places – including film.
In late 2024, A24 shot Oscar-nominated film Marty Supreme on Orchard Street and transformed the beloved street into its 1950’s-era self, Moscot’s storefront included.
Inspired by the film’s bespectacled protagonist played by Timothée Chalamet, Marty Mauser, Zack created Moscot’s new Plotz frame that features a similar hexagonal shape and semi-rimless design to the style Mauser sports in the film.
“It was a very exciting day when they were filming,” Harvey said. “Seeing these historical photos come to life; it was kind of like coming full circle for us. As a matter of fact, I felt so compelled to run in front of the shop like my great-grandfather Hyman stood and kind of recreate that moment.”
Balancing a reverence for the past with an excitement for the future is intrinsic to the Moscot brand.
“It was an expression, you need to know your past to know where you’re going. We reflect on the way in which we ran our business with integrity, with honest and with expertise. My grandfather always said if you treat people fairly, they’ll come back. It’s that simple”
To learn more about Moscot, visit their website.
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