I've never visited a Johnston & Murphy before. Actually, I don't think I really knew they had…read moreactual shops---and I had no idea they carried women's clothes! My wonderful boyfriend is currently on a shoe kick so he asked me to come in to take a look at a beautiful pair of deep, dark brown suede boots with the toe and heel scuffed (the current trend---I don't know why the heck they had to scuff 'em! Makes them look used!), retailing at $200.
The store is nicely decorated with that old money, Upper East Side vibe--on one side is women's and on the other, men's. Red suede chairs allow you to sit and try on shoes. But the store isn't solely shoes---they do have clothes for both sexes, not to mention some very nice accessories. And while Johnston & Murphy seems to be for those who work in the financial services area (and almost on par with Cole Haan's merchandise), there were a few more funky pieces---the boots my boyfriend was eyeing, as well as a red patent leather handbag.
We sat and waited a good while for someone to help us with shoes. There were 2 or 3 other customers and only one salesperson. I thought perhaps this was a symptom of the economy---stores cutting back on staff. So we sat and waited until the salesperson, Gus, could help us. In between helping another customer, he asked for the shoe size needed, and brought us one--I said ONE--shoe to try on. Um, who buys shoes by trying on ONE?
Well the one didn't fit. So we waited to get his attention and asked for a different size. Again, we were given ONE shoe to try on. Is this some kind of trick to get us to buy---again, economy related? Gus was now running around the store, ringing up customers, answering others' questions. I sat there and thought, "Okay. He's busy. He's the only one here. (I see one is a common theme.) We'll just wait." Well, this was a mistake.
As if we hadn't had enough nonsense, Gus now gives us his full attention. He measures my boyfriend's foot---and since my boyfriend's a drummer, he has foot issues and usually gets his shoes a size bigger to accomodate. Aggressively, Gus starts going on about how he's sold shoes for 28 years and how my boyfriend doesn't need a size bigger; he needs a wide. Since we know which size is too small and too big, Gus says to buy the shoe the size in between from him today without trying it on because its out of stock--they have it in wide, but not in store. He'll order it for us and have it shipped to us and if we don't like it, we can return it to the store. "If you don't like it, I'll take the blame," he said. Dear reader, this went on for about 5 minutes straight with him telling us to buy it from him today.
Absolutely ridiculous! I even offered that since we had to come back next week "to pick up a frame I was having engraved" (wink, wink), if he got the shoe in, we would come in and try it on! But as I mentioned earlier, this incident was economy related. :/
When we left, my boyfriend got on his iPhone, checked the Johnston & Murphy website and called their locations for the shoe in a wide in his size. Turns out the shoe DOESN'T COME IN A WIDE!!! Now I don't want to call anyone a liar, but if you go in and see a guy named Gus, don't say I didn't warn ya!
Store is accessible, but around the clothes, it's a bit tight.
I'm giving the store 3 stars based on quality and product. Minus 2 stars for Gus and the nonsense!