RED HOOK — A vintage menswear shop is making a statement in Red Hook with military fashion, outdoor gear and dapper coats.
Wooden Sleepers, a shop at 416 Van Brunt St. that opened last month, is catering to men’s fashion needs with a “carefully curated collection of men’s vintage,” said founder and owner Brian Davis.
This is Wooden Sleepers’ first brick-and-mortar location, but Davis has been selling clothes, accessories and home goods under the name for almost five years, first online, then at flea markets and trade shows.
“Every piece is one of a kind,” said Davis, 32, who handpicks each product.
Davis focuses on three primary styles for the shop: military vintage, outdoor gear and traditional American, he said.
“They look as good and as relevant today as they did back then,” he said.
The M65 military jacket, which was popularized by actor Robert De Niro in the 1976 film “Taxi Driver,” is one “iconic” style that the shop carries, originally from the Vietnam War era. It is priced around $150, Davis said.
Wooden Sleepers also sells classic outdoor Mackinaw plaid wool jackets that were made in the '30s, '40s and '50s.
As for a traditional look, “it doesn’t really get more classic than a Harris Tweed jacket,” he said.
“Nothing we sell is costume-y,” Davis added. “It’s not supposed to be funny.”
Davis, who lives in Greenpoint, first started searching for a shop location last year. He expanded his search to the south Brooklyn waterfront after failing to find a suitable spot in his own neighborhood.
“I had never even been to Red Hook to be honest,” he said. “I just had a good vibe about it.”
Wooden Sleepers’ products range from $10 to $30 for wool caps and ties, $80 to $100 for sweaters and shirts, and $150 to $300 for jackets and outerwear. Some of the rarer pieces can cost more than $400.
Other notable changes in the area include:
► Lola's Tapas Bar at 221 Smith St. closed its doors, blog Pardon Me For Asking reported this week. Smith Hanten listed the bar and restaurant that also has an outside deck and full basement for a $120,000 sale price and $7,500 to rent.
Associate broker James Lola said the property is still available but "there's a lot of interest," he added.
