J. Levine Books and Judaica is an independent bookstore located in Midtown Manhattan. J. Levine is a fifth-generation family business and one of the oldest standing Judaica stores in United States since it opened in 1905.
History
The business was founded in 1890 in Vilkomir, Lithuania,[1] where sofer Hirsch Landy began selling the Torah scrolls he produced. In 1905, he immigrated to the United States and continued the business as a pushcart on the Lower East Side. In 1920, his son-in-law Joseph Levine incorporated and expanded the business to selling synagogue vestments, and his sons Harold, Melvin and Seymour Levine continued the business.[2]
J. Levine expanded to its current location in Midtown Manhattan, where it offers books, menorahs, and various Judaica,[3] including gifts and children's games and toys that are popular during Hanukkah.[4]
Like many traditional booksellers, the store saw a decrease in sales in the first few years of the 2000s, as Amazon.com surged in popularity. Seymour's son Daniel Levine, the fourth-generation owner, said business dropped 18 percent from 2000 to 2005. However, the store expanded its own business online in order to compete, and sales rose 20 percent, Levine said.[5]
In 2019 after 130 years operating a Judaica store, the J Levine Manhattan store closed its brick and mortar store. It retains its online store and continues a Torah rental business and a retail Ketubah store in Manhattan by appointment.
