Surviving on LES (2021)

Surviving on LES is a deep dive into a unique New York City universe undergoing a dramatic change. The Lower East Side of Manhattan is a space in cultural conflict and its inhabitants are our window into this experience. The old guard is navigating the transition from the golden age of immigrants and mom and pop grocers to Matcha cafes and designer shops. Can the long time residents of the Lower East Side co-exist with the gentrified hipsters staking out their own territory? We follow three Lower East side stalwarts: Sammy Markowitz, the sixty year old Jewish Orthodox store owner; Nat, his longtime Italian-American sales associate; and Mario, his Caribbean born store manager. All three operate this Lower East side landmark as a tight unit with the complicity and hard-won tacit knowledge that comes from working side by side for years. The three men enlist the help of some young blood that bring modern tactics and know-how to this old fashioned storefront. All come together to brand the store and keep Sammy and the boys from "going extinct."