Northamptonshire shoe firm opens new shop in New York

A Rushden-based shoe firm has gone Stateside with the opening of its first store outside of the UK.
Grenson has opened a new shop in New YorkGrenson has opened a new shop in New York
Grenson has opened a new shop in New York

Grenson has been based in Rushden since 1866, starting out at the Corn Merchants in the town before moving to Green Yard.

When bigger premises were required in 1895, they built a factory on the corner of Queen Street and Cromwell Road which they remained at until 2013 when they re-located to the current site in Crown Way, Rushden.

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As the company celebrates its 150th year in business, it has opened a new store in New York.

Some of the Grenson rangeSome of the Grenson range
Some of the Grenson range

The shop is its first stand-alone store outside of the UK and will serve the American market, which is its second biggest market worldwide.

Bosses say they are hoping to offer more than just the ready to wear shoes for men and women, with other services including bespoke, repairs and the Grenson Lab service where they will make a shoe to a customer’s own specification.

Tim Little, creative director and owner of Grenson, said: “I am so proud to be opening a store in New York as it is a city that I love and where I once lived.

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“The idea is for the store to support our business in the US by creating a place for our true followers to have access to our full collection, but also to support our retailers by raising the profile of the brand.”

Some of the Grenson rangeSome of the Grenson range
Some of the Grenson range

The new store is the fifth Grenson store, with four stores in London.

It is in Elizabeth Street, New York, and four members of staff were hired to run it.

The shop’s interior design is bespoke to the location but echoes some of the elements of the London stores such as the warm cherry wood walls and the mid century lounge atmosphere.

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It is designed to be a comfortable room where people can spend time and feel relaxed.

The 150th anniversary of Grenson shoes is due to be marked by a series of events and an archive collection of shoes that will be reproduced from the originals.

They will cover many decades of Grenson shoemaking.