Despite the freefalling economy of 1929, Russian immigrant Sam Feldman realized that the ladies of Carnegie Hill, then an up-and-coming neighborhood on the Upper East Side of New York City, were bound to need small household goods. He opened a five-and-dime store. His instincts were solid and, as the area further gentrified, the shop, known then and today as S. Feldman Housewares, thrived.
"It's an eclectic store," says Jake Feldman, great-grandson of the founder, who works alongside his father, Scott. "We carry over 10,000 items in about 1,000 square feet of space and maintain strong personal connections in an increasingly impersonal world. On an average day as many as 200 people may walk through our door; regardless, I know a good two-thirds of our customers by name."
S. Feldman circa 1937: Sam Feldman in back.
When you enter the space at 1304 Madison Avenue (at 92nd Street) your ears are filled with Big Band swing and other golden oldies—no harsh sounds here. All around are items you might not have realized you can't live without, like a rubber handbag shaped like a chicken, or a knife that makes short work of spreading cold butter. Need a kale stripper to separate leaves from stems? How about a Flexicado, a device designed to slice avocados, or a gift for a child like the Earaser, a gadget shaped—you guessed it—like the one Van Gogh removed? All this and more can be yours along with the pleasure of free delivery all over NYC and same-day arrival on the Upper East Side. Frequent shoppers open house accounts and many people bring in their vacuums and small appliances for repair. The house technician, on premises Mondays through Fridays, also rewires old lamps.
Sam Feldman opened three other houseware emporiums in different parts of the city but only this one survived and prospered. Originally, the store was almost directly across the avenue, moving to its present location in 1996. "We still sell light bulbs and make keys," Jake Feldman points out. "But, we also offer items that cost far more like major brands of cookware including Le Creuset, very popular European vacuum cleaners, and bags to fit them."
Keeping merchandise fresh and relevant takes Feldman to trade shows all over. Imagining the depth of the stock is impossible; only a visit to the store will let you in on its magic. S. Feldman Housewares is open 9am-6pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays. Drop in and see what old-fashioned good service combined with up-to-the-minute stock is all about—you're certain to find something wonderful calling your name.
For more information, visit sfeldmanhousewares.com.