A mall with no cafes, no cinema, only headless mannequins and a strict bar against admitting any men on its upper floor may sound like an unappealing shopping center, but the novel outlet aims to fill a niche market: shopping for ultra-Orthodox women in the Bnei Brak neighborhood of Tel Aviv. The mall features 20 stores, all designed to meet the ultra conservative tastes of its clients. Even the beds here are only available in the snug single size, due to the ultra-Orthodox injunction against sleeping in the same bed, even for married couples.

The owner, Yehuda Amar — whose prior forays have been in the apartment building construction business — insists that business is good: “Business is good, and it’s better because it’s women-only… It’s what the people in this area want. They can look at the lingerie and make-up without worrying about men lurking behind them.”

Mimi Hanaoka