Empire Apparel

Profile

At first glance, Empire appears to be just another generic shop off Canal Street, but behind the non-descript storefront is an impressive collection of athletic clothes and gear. The walls closest to the door are lined with men’s and women’s shoes, like Nike sneakers, Sketchers flip-flops, and slip-on Vans. Further inside, oversized Ecko Unltd. tees, waterproof Nike watches, and North Face and Spyder coats (for both adults and kids) are crammed into crowded racks; Empire is an official retailer for these brands as well as for Timberland. And it’s the Timberland products;from the trademark suede boots to the leather belts and wallets; that get the most play here. Of course, it is Canal Street, so the tourist-y NYPD, I [heart] NY, and FDNY items (including tank-and-boy-short sets and toddler onesies) make a requisite appearance, too. — Caroline Kinneberg