Why a Former Actor Opened DramaClub.US, a Brooklyn Boutique with a Local Touch and Global Reach
February 20, 2025
Authored by: Kristin Johnson• 4 Minute Read
Nestled in the heart of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Drama Club is a place where style meets storytelling.
In fact, Drama Club’s name is a nod to its founder’s past as an actor, a subtle tribute to the art of theater. “Drama Club is a reference to my days as an actor. It’s about storytelling—about curating products that make people feel something, just like a great performance,” says Jack Sachs, founder of Drama Club. The store offers a curated selection of men’s, women’s and unisex clothing, footwear, jewelry, accessories, and home goods.
The store, located across from McGolrick Park, is a well-lit, minimalist gallery space for the carefully selected brands from all over the world. The store’s interior, with its custom wood and marble furnishings, wrap around windows, and distinctive lighting fixtures, offers a sensory experience as memorable as the items on the shelves. It’s a retail experience one cannot replicate at a fast-fashion chain or department store.
His unique vision is rooted in his extensive background in retail, including leadership roles at Barneys New York, OAK, and Bird. But he couldn’t escape his entrepreneurial calling. “I asked my job at a small business for a major promotion and got laughed at, so it was a turning point in my career where enough things were aligned and I signed the lease for our store,” he recalls.
Sachs’ vision for Drama Club has always centered around a blend of product quality and customer connection: “My proudest moments are when people come back in around the holidays to buy gifts for their girlfriends, who the next year turn into their fiancées, who then turn into wives and mothers,” he says.
In an era where big-box retailers often dominate, Drama Club has maintained its authenticity by focusing on meaningful, personalized service. It’s about creating an experience rather than just a transaction—a philosophy that has earned the store a dedicated following. “They could go anywhere, but they keep coming back to us. That’s the kind of relationship we’ve built,” says Sachs.
Drama Club’s carefully selected product lines reflect Jack’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and diversity. The men’s clothing selection includes brands like Marni, Gramicci and Portuguese Flannel, while the women's collection features names such as GANNI, Raquel Allegra, Kowtow, and Levi's. The accessories assortment includes coveted items from Comme des Garçons, Birkenstock, Junghans, and Steiff among others. Each piece is hand-picked for its story and quality, ensuring that every item offers something unique, whether it’s the story behind the brand or the material craftsmanship.
As Sachs explains, “The idea is to provide clothes that cover you from head to toe. It’s a local business with a global focus—some brands you know, some you don’t—but each of them is carefully curated to offer something special.” And Sachs makes sure his brand ethos is fully reflected in the Drama Club’s e-commerce experience at dramaclub.us. One of the most interesting aspects of Drama Club’s online identity is its choice of domain name, where Sachs intentionally chose .US. The decision wasn’t just about the practicalities of availability; it was about leaning into a sense of local pride while also embracing the broader scope of the store’s appeal.
“Choosing a .US domain was a conscious choice for us…We found .US and leaned into that domain and brand.” He wanted something that felt rooted in the local community, while still acknowledging the global nature of the business. To customers, the .US domain reinforces Drama Club’s identity as a small, community-focused business that still has a worldwide reach, offering products from brands with international reputations for quality and craftsmanship.
The choice of a .US domain also speaks to the resilience of Drama Club, particularly during challenging times. When COVID-19 disrupted in-person shopping, the store had to adapt quickly. While large competitors with bigger ad budgets could dominate online spaces, Drama Club chooses to use its website as more of a marketing tool than a direct sales platform, focusing on the connection between the store’s physical presence and its global audience. “Exposure outside of your own circle is always a challenge for a small business. But we’ve always been about the connection—whether that’s in-store or online.”
The journey hasn’t always been easy but the brand’s focus on creating a community around their store—one that is both local and global—has allowed it to thrive.
In parting, Sachs offers future entrepreneurs this piece of advice: “You must stay true to your unique point of view, and you must listen to your customer. Only in that delicate balance will you find success!”
