Esprit founder sells one Sag Harbor home, seeks $13.5M for another

A 3,500-square-foot Sag Harbor home that once belonged to Jürgen Friedrich, founder of the fashion brand Esprit, had its sale close at nearly $5 million, according to 27east. The home at 31 Howard Street initially hit the market last fall for $5.95 million. That price had dropped to an even $5 million by the time it went into contract in March, Curbed reported at the time. The final purchase price was $4.75 million, according to Zillow’s Out East site. Friedrich bought the home with his wife, Anke, for $1.35 million in 2014. The couple renovated the home, which was built in 1843, with a number of interior updates, as well as adding a pool in the backyard and a pool house. Today the home has four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, two living rooms and a chef’s kitchen. Rima Mardoyan Smyth and Ryan Struble of Douglas Elliman represented the Friedrichs on the sale, along with Susan Breitenbach of the Corcoran Group. The Elliman duo are also representing the Friedrich’s in the potential sale of another of their Sag Harbor properties at 20 Union Street, according to 6sqft. The 223-year-old home was allegedly once home to President Chester A. Arthur, who dubbed it the “Summer White House.” The renovated property hit the market in 2016 seeking $14.2 million, but late last year its price was slashed to $13.5 million. Out East shows that the home has been rented in July for $150,000. [27east]