
By Gus Saltonstall
Harry’s Shoes is not closing.
Change is afoot at the iconic Upper West Side business, though.
Since December 20, West Side Rag has received more than a dozen emails from worried readers wondering if Harry’s Shoes at 2299 Broadway, near the corner of West 83rd Street, is closing.
Many of the emails mentioned the lack of inventory in the store in recent months, the lack of restocking of popular shoes, and a 40-percent-off-everything sale that has been going on since the end of 2024.
“Harry‘s Shoes looks like it is not long for the USW: Half the store is empty,” one reader wrote to the Rag on January 15. “Is this UWS landmark soon to bite the dust? Please let us know.”
Some of the emails from readers also referenced quick conversations they had with employees at the store who said the business was being sold and would close in the near future.
The Rag first visited Harry’s Shoes on December 20 to see if we could get an answer on its future, but multiple employees said that neither the owner nor the manager was in on that day and we should email the business.
That same day we sent an email asking for more information, but we never heard back, despite multiple more attempts over the past few weeks.
On Monday, we visited the store again, and this time we were able to speak with a manager about the future of Harry’s Shoes.
The manager did not want to share his name, but clarified that Harry’s Shoes would not be permanently closing.
The manager explained that the business is being sold, though, and that the store would close at some point in February for renovations, and reopen around March under the new ownership. He could not specify the exact timeline or who the new owner of the longtime Upper West Side business would be.
In terms of whether it would keep the Harry’s Shoes name?
“Yes. It will always be Harry’s Shoes.”
Harry’s Shoes has been open at its Upper West Side location since 1975. The store has been run by the same family for more than 90 years. You can learn more about the business’ history — HERE.
Subscribe to WSR’s free email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
Bring back DSW!
We need a DSW at the upperwest side
That is really sad that the family will no longer run the business. I remember the pandemic+era interview with the owner.
But I have to say. I have no doubt the salespeople work really hard there but I have had generally bad experiences there for awhile. So hopefully the new owners will train the salespeople a little differently.
I do wonder also. There was a kids section. Then it was closed and a separate kids store was opened. The.n that store was closed and the kids section was reopened. And now that kids section was closed. Was that in prep for the store’s transfer to new ownership? Otherwise, where do parents shop for kids shoes?
The Shoe Tree on 112th and Broadway is a great option for kids’ shoes and some adult shoes. Lovely small family-owned business.
Tiptop on 72nd
Tip Top Kids at 155 W 72nd St has a great selection. I buy all my toddler shoes there!
And it was always packed when I went there with my child. No idea why it closed – expensive too – just like the adult shop. Yep no shoe stores anymore
“….where do parents shop for kids shoes?”
Amazon?
There’s Little Eric’s on Madison and 83rd. We were customers at Eric’s and then Little Eric’s when it opened in 1988. The kids are adults now and the store is still open so they must be doing something right. I’d give them a try if it’s not too much of. a trip.
Harry won’t be Harry’s without the family. Likely to be an unaffordable store for our more wealthy residents and I get that. So don’t have any “hometown “ nostalgic notions folks. The DSW concept in our hood is dead!
I went in there about six weeks ago to buy shoes for work. The selection was pretty small. Took the train to Macy’s the world’s largest store and they had no wide sizes at all, not one shoe I could even try on. Went home after wasting two hours and two subway fares and ordered my favorite dress shoes on Amazon in exactly my size and had them the next day. I’ll miss Harry’s when it’s gone but I’ll be fine for shoes.
DSW has wide sizes in certain brands (Clarks, for one, BZees), but you usually have to order online. You can see inventory and try some sizes at the store on W. 34th Street, just west of Macy’s.
Used to be that Tip Top and Harry’s had many wide width choices in shoes….. not for a long time now.
There’s a reason we order stuff online versus locally: Unavailability of products. I get that it oosts $$ to carry inventory but maybe there is some way that you can pick out a style at the local shoe store and they order online from the supplier and deliver to you locally or some variation. On those occasions when you need something NOW/THAT day, and are willing to pay a premium for a product, you get it locally. But when products are not in stock and even when they are, they are more expensive than online, few of us can afford the luxury of paying more when you can get it for less and also in a day or two. I hate the idea of local businesses that committed to a neighborhood for years closing (shades of the big book stores arriving and the end of independent book stores, decades ago) but people only have so much money to spend and they have to consider that when purchasing.
The end of independent bookstores? I don’t think so. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/10/books/bookstores-diversity-pandemic.html
I prefer trying on shoes and getting a pair that fits the first time, rather than ordering an assortment online and then returning the “rejects.”
They haven’t been themselves in many years. The used to be stocked with socks, shoes etc. For the past few years the shelves have been bare. I know why. You could get the same thing on Amazon for 40% less. This type of retail is not competitive anymore.
DSW like every other retailer today has a huge online presence and does very good business. They just didn’t need three physical stores in Manhattan (others are on Union Square and 34th street).
Leaving aside the not so cheap rent for UWS location it likely was simply too huge in terms of sales per square foot (two levels plus basement). It certainly was too large for policing effectively as theft was a not so small problem. In later years UWS DSW closed their public restrooms in part to deter theft but also because they became de facto homeless refuge spots.
Overall physical footwear retail is suffering from same issues as everyone else, rise of online.
Amazon, DSW, Zappos, UGG and so many more all have online stores. That is piled onto stores such as Macys, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom’s and other department or specialty stores that sell footwear as part of their online presence as well. Don’t forget eBay and other online sellers as well that have footwear.
DSW has ramped up their online presence in recent years so not only can orders be picked up at a local stores but returns done at same locations as well.
Well I got something to say, where is the selection for wide shoes there?
I think Harryhimselfneeds to say something
I like to go to Zabars and then buy some shoes
Wut you all think?
Just about nothing in Wide, let alone X-Wide, despite a large selection of orthopedic-looking shoes. I haven’t found anything there I could wear in years.
Similarly, I haven’t been able to find anything there in narrow widths. Used to be they had a good selection with trained salespeople who knew how to fit shoes. Now I’m limited to Zappos, where I can order three pairs of the same style in different sizes, keep the one that fits best, and return the others without shipping charges. Not a great solution, but better than getting the fisheye when you ask for a non-average size in a B&M store.
Never liked this store. Their were return policy stinks. No refunds. Only store credit. I always prefer TipTop on West 72nd Street
I have been told that the people who bought Harry’s are from the Sole Provisions Stores which are similar to what Harry’s has been.
Well, I had my time with Harrys too. And I hope the TipTop family is in the buyer position. I LOVE TipTop and it has been my go-to for a variety of footwear and “post-surgery PT sensible” shoes.
Harry’s has been nose -bleed expensive for a long time now. I used to te able to buy shoes at a reasonable price, but that is long gone. $400 and $500 and up sandals not my budget. Tip Top then went the same route. No reasonably priced shoes on UWS. Only recourse is online.
Spot on Elisabeth. Some people like to complain that those of us who buy clothing, shoes, etc. online are ruining the Mom and Pop’s of the city, but when the dust settles we must always choose what works best for us financially. While I love perusing Tip Top and other shoe retailers, their prices are simply prohibitive most of the time. Unless I need a pair of shoes TODAY, online shopping is the life for me.
Was there this weekend. The new owners want all the inventory to be cleared out so they can start fresh.. Everything in the store is 40% off at the moment including nice winter boots. Good time to buy if you have the right foot size!
Unclear if the existing staff will be retained.
I shopped Harry’s for years. I had a gift card for 20% off. It was based on purchasing over $600 dollars of shoes. I noticed it had expired by one week and went there to see if they would still honor it. They categorically said no. I left and have not returned since. You all might think it was their right, but I feel that good will might have kept me as a customer. I hope the new owners will be nicer
I have found that Zappo’s carries most of the brands I like and usually has something on sale.
I found them to be overpriced, and with poor service to boot. If in fact there are to be new owners, perhaps they will do a better job.
I was told by an employee that the store is being sold to another shoe store. It’s a chain with multiple national locations. He gave the impression that it’s smaller brand, not a DSW-like brand, but didn’t know more. The purchaser feels they will have a ready-made clientele because so many people already know and shop at Harry’s Shoes. It’s sad to see another neighborhood tradition coming to an end, whether you shopped there or not.
There’s a very nice small children’s shoe store on 112 and Broadway. They also have a small inventory of women’s shoes.
The Shoe Tree for children’s shoes:
https://theshoetreeonline.com/
2876 Broadway at 112th is worth the trip!
Sadly, the UWS is a customer wasteland. We have no stores to purchase anything of quality or variety. Where we once had BBB and Gracious Home , Century 21, and DSW, not to mention West Side Market and Harmons, we have nothing. Home Depot and TJ Max have opened on East 59th and 1st as have many Whole Foods and Target smaller stores opening On the UES. It will be years before the UWS will be convenient again.
I’m old enough to remember when there was a small entrance with glass display case in addition to the display windows outside and tile floor.
They changed the entrance to a flat one probably 50 years ago.
I shopped at Harry”s for years and continued whenever visiting from Canada.
Last July I went to Harry”s and realized it was depleted. Went to Tip Top on 72d street directly from there and purchased shoes. Also went directly to New Balance store on Amsterdam near 73-74 St, to get my favorite NB990, staff very patient, helpful and I found all I hoped for. Both store highly recommended.
Is madewell closed on the uws?
How many people here shop online? How many shop big box stores? Why, why would anyone think that stores would survive here? This neighbor values price only. So.. you get less than middle America shopping choices. And then those close because still UWSers shop big box cheap online.
A Walmart might make it for a year or so but not past that. Any local shop- no waaaaay.
. Not hard to figure out.
You should be shocked if anything of interest lasts here another here- list your 3 favorite local, unique businesses.
I dare you to place money in if they will be here in 2026. Go ahead – name 3… begin!
Challenge accepted: Gold Leaf Stationery, The Town Shop, Zabar’s. I win, pay up. 😀
So . . . you win if your selections are still here January 2026.
Private equity (willing) target?
Can we please stop suggesting the feasibility of private equity rescuing local stores? The average size of a PE deal in 2024 was ~$500 MILLION.
I’d say let it close, if it weren’t for the fact that I don’t want one more empty storefront on Broadway. But Harry‘s was way overpriced, with very ordinary shoes, and extremely unhelpful bordering on rude sales people. I’ve lived in this neighborhood for over 60 years, and stopped going to Harry‘s 20 years ago.