Zapateria Mexico on 5th Avenue and 45th Street has been a fixture in Sunset Park for 15 years. Owner Jorge Sanchez imports all his goods from León, Guanajuato in Mexico. The small store is full of cowboy boots, fancy cowboy boots, European style boots (which means they have zippers), cowboy hats, shirts, vests, Wrangler jeans, metal belt buckles, and chaps. If you’re curious who needs all this cowboy gear, Sanchez says they’re mostly Mexicans and Central Americans from all over the tri-state area. He says they gear up for rodeos that happen periodically in the region.
But there is one thing happening regularly in Sunset Park: rising rents. Sanchez says for the past few years, his monthly rent has increased by $200. Last year he paid $5,800 a month. This year, it's $6,000 a month. But for now, at least, he’s selling enough cowboy boots and gear to afford the higher rent.
