shoe store

crustythor wrote:

Oooh, something like that place on the Lower East Side that sells all sorts of vintage-y old school sneaks, rather than your traditional athletic-gear type of shoe store. That would be really cool to have nearby!

oh, dear lord, no. that store is the WORST example of the gentrification of the LES, which is the kingdom of gentrification. a store that sells $400 sneakers right next to a community center that has existed for more than 20 years that can't get enough money to renovate their falling-down building? i can't think of a more textbook example of gentrification. i was once at abc no rio in the afternoon when that store was having some sort of opening or sale or something - i think it was when nike made those pigeon shoes. the line was down the block, and all of these people kept pulling up in cabs with shopping bags flying and trying to come into abc (where there was a record fair or reading or something) and acting appalled when they looked up from their cellphone conversations long enough to realize that they were in an actually-existing place, not a pre-packaged, overhyped, consumer-driven hellhole. ugh.

Okay, okay. Full disclosure: I haven't ever been IN that store -- tried to go once but it was closed that day. I didn't realize they were so high-priced. Sorry!

What I had in mind is a sneaker store that isn't your standard Foot Lockeresque crap -- less athletic, more comfort/cool.

Jack wrote: [quote=apollonia666]What I had in mind is a sneaker store that isn't your standard Foot Lockeresque crap -- less athletic, more comfort/cool.

Agreed on all counts. The reality is that the shoe buying experience in NYC sucks to high heaven nowadays. 'David Z' is a decent local chain, but back in the pre-Internet world of NYC West 8th Street and Bleeker Street between Broadway and 6th was the mad haven for a great selection of shoes, sneakers and all at great discounts. Even rejects and non-standard brands that were just good.

Sad to say it seems like the only place you can even get a decent selection nowadays is on Zappos.com. Which stinks. A decent store in the neighborhood would do well.

A Bathing Ape and the like are hillariously overpriced!

my last shoe buying experience was this summer (I know, I'm a girl so I'm supposed to buy tons of shoes all the time, but it is really stressful in this city, so I don't) at the remodeled shoe store in union square (across the street from Virgin). that place is LOUD -- they were playing truly horrible euro-techno (that tiesto crap) at ear splitting volumes. they also put in all halogen lamps so it's fuckin HOT in there. why did I buy anything? cause they were running a two for one sale, so I got some hippy birks and sneakers for $100. but it stressed me out so badly that I haven't been shoe shopping since.

bluedove wrote: I'm a big Zappos fan these days.

All hail Zappos, that there is the shit.