‘From the Gegent’ is a series of articles featuring businesses, services and the people behind them in the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. Presented by Mica Soffer, owner and publisher of community news service COLlive.com and neighborhood directory gegent.com:
Photos: Baruch Ezagui
Primo, the upscale hat and Kapota shop on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights, has renovated and expanded their shop, just in time for the pre-Pesach shopping rush.
The soon to be completed 3-floor shopping center boasts a department-store atmosphere, offering quality men’s and boy’s wear, combined with an upscale shopping experience.
Owners Shlomie Rotter and Mendy Sacho have brought their 20 years of experience to provide high-quality Italian clothing, shoes, hats, and accessories to the Kingston Avenue shopper.
The newly redesigned, spacious shop will have separate areas: the main floor carrying hats and shoes, and the top floor displaying custom and ready-to-wear suits, off-the-rack and custom Kapotas, and shirts, as well as a full on-site tailoring service. The specially designed separate shopping areas make it easy to browse and is less overwhelming to shoppers.
“If you are shopping for a Kapota, you won’t be surrounded by people trying on hats,” Shloime Rotter says.
The lower floor will carry Bar Mitzvah boys clothing, as well as boys and men’s undergarments.
Kapotas start at $250 for ready-made, ready-made with tailoring starts at $450, and a custom made Kapota starts at $650.
Mendy Sacho, who was trained in fitting, measuring and fabrics by Coppley in Canada, also has 12 years of experience in fitting Kapotas and suits under his belt.
“Most people don’t realize how complicated it is to do a proper fit for a Kapota,” Sacho explains. “People think it’s simple, that you can make a Kapota anywhere. There are 9 panels on a Kapota, which need to be cut and sewn correctly so that it fits properly,” he says.
Primo suits for men and boys are made with quality Italian fabrics, such as Zegna and Hickey Freeman, and are of superior quality. Prices for boys’ suits begin at $250, men’s at $350.
“Our suits are Italian made, and fully canvassed inside rather than glued,” explains Shloime Rotter. “Cheaper suits made with glue can bubble after a while. Ours will last longer,” he says.
A popular product they have created are dress pants made from breathable, stretch fabric.
“Our men and boys wear dress clothing all year round, even in the hot summer,” Sacho explains. “So we created pants out of a stretch fabric, which look dressy, but it’s stretchy and much more comfortable. It’s also become popular for wedding kapotas because it’s more comfortable to dance in.”
The store will continue to offer their top-quality hat selection which they are known for.
They offer a beautiful selection of Italian hats, starting at $150 going up to $200.
They will also offer their own full line of men’s shirts, ties, cufflinks, and a full selection of Italian shoes in high-quality brands.
Many of the shoes are brand names such as Ecco, Florsheim, Mezlan, Mirage and Verona, but the designs are by Primo themselves, who keep up with the trends and most requested and most popular styles.
Sacho and Rotter, both proud Crown Heights residents, say their goal is to offer an upscale shopping experience and service to the Crown Heights consumer.
“There is no need to travel out of the neighborhood for upscale, high-end boys and menswear,” Sacho says. “Kan Tzivah Hashem es Habrocha – we are offering top quality and service right here in the neighborhood. My hope is, instead of Crown Heights’ers shlepping to Boro Park to shop, Boro Parkers will be shlepping to Crown Heights to shop.”
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Primo
366 Kingston Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Kapotas.com
Phone: 718-804-0770
Hours:
Sunday 11-6
Monday -Thursday 11-7
Friday -11-2
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May you and your partner go from strength to strength – excellent service always
Go shloimy rotter
Of course I was refering to hats, its a GREAT HAT store.
Sacho if the shoes are as well fitted as your kapotas I am looking forward to checking in at your footwear department.
Came in recently on a Friday afternoon with very little time to shop.
Left 20mins later with a perfect kapota and superb hat.
These guys have a great eye for what looks good on their customers.
Wishing you lots of hatzlocho!
A very happy customer.
I LOVE that u had Mendy J and The Izzy Rant for the photo op!!
champion partnership .. winning father and son team !! such warm people much hatzlocho on ur new venture
Mendy you are the best. Well done
So glad to hear this amazing news. First class people
Go Baruch m’chayil el chayil ..
Keep up the good job.
May you be zoche to buy from that store nice clothes and shoes for your wedding. b”h.
With happiness and Tuv Levav.
Go Rotter go
My neighbor from 30 years, all my boys are buying by you,
Zay Matzliach big time.
Hatzlacha Rabba
I love going to primo such a good vibe
Looks beautiful I will definitely stop in hatzlacha raba
Hatzlacha Raba guys!
bought suits for all my children here!!! well tailored and exquisite these suits are a treat!!
this is great!!! Primo has the best suits and hats and the staff is so friendly and easy to work with. its truly an enjoyable experience shopping here. I definitely recommend shopping here for all your needs. way to go!!!
However, perhaps they can add extra hours, especially before Pesach. Custom tailoring should also provide custom or by-appointment hours. Those wishing to upgrade and go for custom items are usually busy during regular business hours.
Beautiful store with quality clothing and quality service.
Go rotters best family ever ! We love you shloimy and shaina!! Blessings on your heads!
wow stunning store much luck always such nice service
Go ROTTER family…
We’re sooo happy for you all the way from CA…
Your Hat Store was the one the Rebbe gave Brochas to Sol Rotter to do well at selling Hats.
There shouldn’t be any competitors in the area to take away from your parnossah.
May you continue going from Chayil M’Chayil.
Your SA-LB-LA supporters…
Hessel & Miriam Kessler & Family xoxo 👏👏
Hatzloche!!
Hatzlacha raba Mendy sacho
BS”D Excellent shoe selection and in wide sizes
Very impressed, was at the store and it feel like you are like it says in the article a Department store, beside that i always been there shopping and got such warm service. great high quality clothing and all men wear, prices are always up to date and comparable with other affordable prices
Cannot wait to come to CH
Go shloimy and zaidy
Looks beautiful!! Hatzlacha raba!!
Go Rotter family!
I went through 5 hats in 2-3 years because I’m always sold the wrong size, just full on wrong hat. ALways ends up being a disaster and ewasting hundreds of dollars because I always trust that those selling have a good eye. Finally I gave up (should’ve learned my lesson way sooner than 5 hats 🙂 ) and ditched the big names and went to Primo. I told Shloimy what I wanted, he grabbed the PERFECT hat off of the shelf, for HALF the price of all of my previous ones. It has lasted since and is exactly what I… Read more »