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Dozens gathered on Saturday to celebrate Tip Top Shoes’ 85 years on the Upper West Side. The beloved shop at 155 West 72nd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, was packed with patrons, and familiar longtime employees were behind the counter.
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“The service is so good. It’s not just buying a pair of shoes anonymously — it’s getting fitted, and generation after generation of family members have been coming here,” said Senator Hoylman-Sigal inside the shop before the festivities officially got underway. He described the work as “an incredible public service … It’s really made a difference,” before formally announcing that May 31 is officially Tip Top Shoes Appreciation Day.
“Very special,” said Lester Wasserman about the honor. He is the son of Danny Wasserman, long considered a visionary in the industry, who purchased the Tip Top brand in 1964 and moved to the neighborhood to live on West 72nd Street, where he remained until his death in October 2024. “It’s a testament to who we are and our commitment to the community,” added Wasserman, figuratively tipping his hat to his employees and the way their team has collectively touched people’s lives. “We’ve got vital players. You know, it’s not just Team Wasserman — it’s Team Tip Top, and that’s the most important thing.” Lester opened sneaker boutique and apparel brand, West NYC, steps away from Tip Top in 2007.
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Danny Wasserman’s daughter, Margot, has long run Tip Top Kids Shoes, another family store on West 72nd Street. We asked about her trajectory, as it’s not always common for children to want to take over—or even join—the family business. “Actually, when I first graduated from college, I worked for Ralph Lauren for eight years, and I loved it,” she said. “My dad had written me an email and was interested in having me join the business.” Margot said she hadn’t really considered that possibility at the time, explaining that she was happy at Ralph Lauren. “And he wrote me a letter, wanting me to join — and, you know, I thought about it, and I was like, all right, you know what? I’m ready for a change. And I kind of jumped right in and never looked back.”
Hoylman-Sigal, Lester and Margot
Richard Oppenheimer, whose father Fred ran multiple butcher shops nearby—including one on Amsterdam Avenue that was torn down in the 1950s to make way for Lincoln Center—recalled his mother taking him to Tip Top Shoes. Now living in Lincoln Towers with his wife Janice, he shared that, thanks to Tip Top still measuring people’s feet, Janice recently discovered she’s actually a size 9.5, not a 9. “I have a lot of fond memories of Tip Top Shoes from the old days, and it brings me back to Mom,” he said. Richard’s mother passed away in 2009, and visiting the shop reminds him of their time together.
While Tip Top Shoes continues to serve generations of New Yorkers—one perfectly fitted pair at a time—we asked Margot about the current product focus, as Tip Top is known for bringing the best to its shelves. “So we’re definitely still in the high of an Adidas phase,” she said, showing us the unisex styles she and her husband were wearing, both honoring Tip Top’s 85 years in business. Margot added that she and Lester had a special version made with “Remember Danny Wasserman” stitched into the tongue. She noted that both of their families live on West 72nd Street. The tradition continues, indeed.
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