Danny Wasserman, Tip Top Shoes A Family Footwear Legacy Small Business

Danny Wasserman, who gets by with only two pairs of shoes, has been helping New Yorkers find their perfect fit for 40 years.

Tip Top Shoes (155 West 72nd St.) has been owned and operated by the Wasserman family for 50 years; first with Danny’s father at the helm, and now Danny, side by side with his children Lester and Margot.

Danny, 69, emigrated from Israel in 1953, where his father—no surprise—ran shoe stores. After a stint in the U.S. Army, Danny joined his father at Tip Top Shoes in 1974. “It’s in my blood, I guess,” he said. “We are an old fashioned ‘sit and fit’ store, where our salesmen still wear ties, and take great care to ensure customer satisfaction with each visit. We’ve become a West Side institution.”

Lester, 40, in his 17th year at Tip Top, specializes in buying for the athletic shoe department and as an on-floor presence. He began his career at a Nordstrom in New Jersey. “Nordstrom was just a training ground. It was only a matter of time before I joined my dad. It’s worked out great.” Lester also runs a popular sneaker store on the same block.

Ten years ago, Tip Top Kids opened two doors down from Tip Top Shoes. Margot, 33, in her third year with Tip Top, works mostly with the children’s footwear. After a long stint with Ralph Lauren as an associate buyer for kids, she got hooked. “I really started to love the kids biz! Kids always need new shoes, right?” Margot’s main responsibility is buying for the kids store. They stock the core classics, but also try to be ahead of the curve, trying new vendors and styles. “I love working with my family… I have gotten even closer with them and have learned a ton from both of them,” she added

With so many independent stores closing, Tip Top has continued to grow. “We feature the best name brands in both comfort and fashion shoes, and sneakers, for men, women, and children,” Danny said. “Over the years, we’ve gained a loyal following with many literally growing up while shopping in the store, with many becoming parents, so this way, all ages can get their shoes from us, with the same dedicated service.” That said, one of the main reasons they have be able to survive and thrive is that they own the building in which their store operates, saving the difficulty of negotiating with a landlord.

While Danny works six days a week, his relaxation time includes reading fashion magazines, visits to Central Park, and dining at his favorite restaurant, Telepan, while his favorite new take-out place on the block is Redstone Café.

Danny Wasserman not only works on West 72nd Street, but has lived on the same block for over 30 years and has seen much change. “Many of the people who really built the economy are no longer here, but changes are inevitable,” he said. “The Upper West Side is what NYC is all about—a mixture of incomes and a great diversity of people. It’s been very good to us all.”