Esrogim Branches to 3 Spots

By COLlive reporter

The Shapiro Esrogim Center has no less than 3 locations in Crown Heights to sell you an esrog of your choice – as it’s all about choices.

For the second year, shoppers can drop in to the store front at 365 Kingston Avenue, the space once occupied by the Judaica store in the Jewish Children’s Museum or a tent near the Gombo’s Bakery.

“You need space to choose an esrog of your liking,” explained Rabbi Eliezer Lipa Shapiro, who sold Hamafitz Judaica and now owns Hamafitz Stam and the esrogim center.

“I would have loved to have a 2,000 square foot lot, but I didn’t one find yet,” he said. “We felt one location was not enough. People have many preferences in esrogim and we want them to walk around and not feel pressured.”

The difference between the locations – all open at 10:00 AM and close 12 midnight – is the price ranges and quality.

“All our esrogim are Yanover and are hand-picked in Italy by Rabbi Elie Matusof and myself,” Shapiro said, noting that the Rebbe instructed for esrogim to be picked by 2 people to ensure its origin.

“The 2 locations at the Museum and the tent have esrogim ranging from $26 to $150,” he said. “Shluchim have their sets for their Chabad centers picked from there.”

But 30 years in the Tishrei business taught him to treat the high paying customers with extra care as well.

“The high-end esrogim are by me,” he said. “They start at $100 and can go up to $350 or even higher. When customers come directly to me, they can sit down and I can give all the attention needed.”

The locations:

365 Kingston Ave, next to Sterling Electronics, run by Rabbi Shapiro.

Jewish Children’s Museum, corner Kingston & Eastern Parkway, run by Levi Yitzchok Hartman.

Tent on the corner of President & Kingston, next to Gumbo’s, run by Zalmy Shapiro.