Walking on clouds at Eric Comfort Shoes

Tom McCarthy
Eric Comfort Shoes Manager Abraham Thomas said that the store has an experienced sales team of 11 that values customers as their top priority. (Photo by Tom McCarthy)

Eric Comfort Shoes Manager Abraham Thomas said the most important thing a person can do is take care of their feet.

“We specialize in comfort and comfort with style,” Thomas said.

Eric Comfort Shoes was founded by Eric Rosenberg in 1942. Rosenberg is still alive and even comes to stop by the shoe store every once in a while, Thomas said. 

The Manhattan shoe store moved to Williston Park just off of Herricks Road in 2007, Thomas said. Thomas started at the Manhattan location until moving over to the Williston Park location.

“This is the only store on Long Island,” Thomas said.

Thomas said what’s special about the shoe store is that they keep things old school.

“We sell shoes that old fashioned way,” Thomas said. “We measure the foot, we gauge comfort and we incorporate style.”

Wearing comfortable shoes is essential for personal care, including posture, gait and even maintaining a healthy nervous system, Thomas said.

Some doctors are even personally suggesting to their patients to buy their shoes from Eric Comfort Shoes, Thomas said. Thomas said the store specializes in fitted and supportive footwear.

Eric Comfort Shoes carries everything from $25 flip-flops and sandals to $450 Mephisto Milton dress shoes and prominent brands like Clarks, Timberland, Wolverine and Rockport. Every shoe is custom fit to customers’ needs, including expertise in determining the width of feet like narrow or extra-wide, Thomas said.

The store offers the lowest prices possible and the best service, Thomas said.

Comfort shoes are made with a special arch support system, soft leather and are specially handcrafted, Thomas said. 

“You won’t feel tired, even if you wear the shoe for 15 hours,” Thomas said. “ A common sound you hear in the store is ‘oh yeah that feels comfortable.’”

Thomas said that the store has mostly had the same sales team over the years. 

The reason is not only because of the salary but because of the store’s loyal customer who Thomas said are like family to the store.

The store has a lot of repeat customers, Thomas said.

“The priority is the customer. We always treat them like they are the only customer in the store,” Thomas said.

Thomas touted the store’s “very active” website which has been online for 9 years. 

“We ship the shoes on the same today,” Thomas said. 

Thomas said, however, that while the website is a necessary evil in the digital age, he still urges his customers to come in and try a potential new pair of shoes on. 

 

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