HELL’S KITCHEN — A gay men's clothing store on Ninth Avenue is closing its doors next month along with its only other outpost in the country.
Universal Gear at 715 Ninth Ave., between West 48th and West 49th streets, will shutter by Aug. 14, a manager at the store confirmed.
The Hell's Kitchen and a Washington D.C. locations are the company's last two remaining stores, the Washington Blade reported.
“After 23 years in business and a challenging retail environment, it was just time for us to move on and to pursue other things that interest us,” the company’s founder, David Franco, told the outlet.
A manager at the chain's Ninth Avenue store, which opened in 2012, said the company was unable to negotiate a new rent with the Ninth Avenue building’s landlord.
The retailer sells "colorful, fashion-forward" clothing aimed at gay male customers, said the manager, Eddy, who declined to give his last name.
“People know it. When you Google ‘gay clothing in NYC,’ this store comes up,” he said.
Loyal customers are already lamenting the impending closure, Eddy noted.
“They keep asking, ‘Where are we going to shop?’ But I don’t have answers,” he said.
Merchandise at the Hell’s Kitchen location will be on sale until the store’s last day, the manager added.
The chain closed its Chelsea outposts two years ago, after more than 10 years in the neighborhood.
The building’s landlord could not be reached for comment on Monday.
“It happened in Chelsea a few years ago, and now it’s happening here,” Eddy said. “This store was the signature store for gay clothing, so we’re upset.”
