Support Sal's Move to a New Workshop

Tore Levander is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

(2/18/25) UPDATE:

Sal is gone, 337 Atlantic stands empty.

Sal finally had to vacate his shop, leaving empty an iconic window. Things were very difficult for a while as Sal also had to leave his apartment in Coney Island when his building was bought, and simultaneously he had to have a minor surgery. As he would say, murphy's law, I suppose.

Right now he is still in limbo, trying to figure out where and if he is going to set up work again. He recently turned 78 this month and is unsure if he wants to keep woodworking, but if not then he unforuntately has to go in search of a job.

We wanted to update you all to, first off, thank you all so much for your support; Sal was really moved by the amount of people who donnated. And second, to ask for your help again in assisting Sal through this difficult limbo time while he tries to secure an income.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone,

If you have never met the man inside the shop at 337 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, his name is Salvatore "Sal" Abbate. You may or may not know him personally, but odds are that if you live around the neighborhood, you've likely seen him in his shop, biking around the neighborhood always in a pair of overalls, or maybe you've been enticed by the window filled with pieces he's made. I'm Tore, his son; you may have seen me lingering around the shop every now and then as well. He's a native Brooklynite and is a carpenter who specializes in custom cabinetry but takes on a large variety of types of carpentry jobs. He has been working as a carpenter since the '70s, and those who know his work know how much effort and attention to detail Sal puts in. He cares deeply about the quality of his work and has an intense commitment to his craft.

Sal has recently been the victim of his unscrupulous landlord from whom he has received notice that he is being evicted from his shop and will soon have to vacate. This came as a huge surprise to Sal and his family as he had no idea the landlord was selling the shop nor that it had been sold. He operates his entire business (Lorenzo Woodworks) from this shop, so losing it will mean losing his only source of income. He would like to be able to set up shop somewhere else, but he doesn't know where or when he will be able to set up and start working again as he was not prepared for such a sudden eviction.

Leaving this shop will not only mean losing his only way of supporting himself, it also means losing his way of life. He

has been working here ever since the '80s, and he and his shop have become one of the few things in downtown Brooklyn that hasn't changed. Leaving will mean leaving behind over 40 years of memories and the community that he has become such an integral part of.

The money you give will help him in the relocation process as he will be unable to work while moving. So if you are a customer, a fan of his work, a friend, or simply want to help, please consider giving a donation to help him get set up and start working again.

Check out this short video about him and his work.