Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Posted back in May that Harry’s Shoes (2299 Broadway, between 82nd/83rd) would be expanding its store by taking over the space next door neighbor Talbot’s had vacated.

The new combined space opened earlier this month and I recently had a chance to stop by and check it out.

They’ve done an outstanding job with the expansion.

The old Harry’s encompassed about 2,800 sf and definitely had a bit of a dated and cramped feel to it.

At 6,500 sf, the expanded space has a MUCH more modern look and layout — a noticeable and welcome improvement over it’s previous incarnation.

The expansion included new display walls and tables, a unique salon-style women’s section with banquette seating, and enhanced selection of bridge and designer shoes. Behind the scenes, there’s also additional stockroom and office space.

Harry’s is a third-generation, family-owned business. The first store was opened Harry Goldberg in 1931 at 5th Avenue & 116th. In 1975, Harry’s son Joe opened the UWS location, and today it’s run by Joe’s kids, Robert and Randi Goldberg.

The expansion comes on the heels of Designer Shoe Warehouse opening a massive 30,000 sf store just a few blocks south at Broadway & 79th.

Robert Goldberg told DNAinfo over the summer he believes there’s room for both store in the neighborhood.

Goldberg anticipated “very little overlap in the shoes the warehouse will sell and [our] store’s merchandise, and little similarity in the discount shoe-shopping experience and the attention [our] sales staff pays customers.”

The new space definitely puts Harry’s in a better position to be competitive. If you’re an Upper West Sider who eschews chains and likes to support family businesses, definitely stop by.

Speaking of the new DSW…

They opened at the old Filene’s Basement space in July , but the adjoining Syms at Broadway & 80th has been vacant since the end of 2011 and still hasn’t found a permanent tenant.

For now, it appears as though a seasonal tenant is in place.

Yes, it’s September 19th and it’s time to start talking about Halloween.

MUW readers Andrew, Tyler, and Gaby report that a “coming soon” sign for a Halloween City pop-up store has appeared at the long-vacant Sym’s space.

About 10 blocks south at Amsterdam & 70th, the Andrew, Tyler, and Gaby report that a second Halloween City is slated for 2039 Broadway.

This space hasn’t had a full-time tenant since TDAmeritrade closed in May 2011, although this is it’s second turn as a Halloween pop-up store. Last year it was home to a Ricky’s Halloween store.

No word on opening dates for either store, but given that October is just around the corner, I’d imagine both will be open soon.

Finally, if you missed the earlier post, The Purple Fig was closed by the Department Of Health for operating without a permit.

Tough times for The Fig…

Filed under: Food & Drink, Going Out, Kid Stuff, Manhattan, New York City, News, NYC, Openings/Closings, Restaurants, Shopping, Upper West Side, Upper West Side Blog, UWS 1 Comment »
Tags: 2039 Broadway, 2299 Broadway, 250 W 72, 250 West 72, Closing, Designer Shoe Warehouse, DSW, Goldberg Family, Halloween, Halloween City, Halloween Costumes, Halloween pop-up, Harry Goldberg, Harry's Shoes, Joe Goldberg, New York City, NYC, Opening, Randi Goldberg, Robert Goldberg, seasonal, Shoe Store, Shoes, Syms, The Purple Fig, Upper West Side, UWS