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Allan & Suzi
Category: Shopping Fashion Used, Vintage & Consignment Used, Vintage & Consignment [Edit]
237 Centre St(between Grand St & Broome St)
New York, NY 10013
Neighborhoods: SoHo, Little Italy
(212) 724-7445
- Nearest Transit:
-
Canal St (4, 6, 6X)
Spring St (4, 6, 6X)
Canal St (J, N, Q, Z)
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
14 reviews for Allan & Suzi
14 reviews in English
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Review from Tiffany G.
Manhattan, NY
3/29/2011
I think these reviews are pretty harsh. I stumbled on Allan & Suzi last week and was captivated by the display window (there was a white Alaia full length coat that literally stopped me mid-stride). Allan is definitely particular about how you handle his gems and he is absolutely a straight shooter, but I found him to be authentic and added to the Allan & Suzi shopping experience. The pieces are glam and unique and is just a few steps shy of heaven if you ask me... and if you have the cash. The items are pretty expensive but keep in mind that the items are discounted about 70% from the ticketed price. Once Allan realized that I probably wasn't buying, he let me know that some of the items that i coveted were quite simply out of my range. Still, he showed me some of his favorite pieces that he thought I would like.
Allan and Suzi is a great place to check out some serious fashion. Just be prepared for a little attitude. -
Review from Mariposa X.
New York, NY
1/19/2009
Whenever "vintage shopping" comes up in conversation, I always tell my friends in New York...whatever you do, don't go t Allan and Suzi.
I had originally gone into this store thinking, oh, the upper west side needs more independent stores like this. I didn't want to be one of the people who complains only after a real estate agency opens in the place of an independent shop, even though I had never helped support the store. Well, this is not a store whose passing I will mourn.
I pulled a silk and chiffon dress of the packed and dusty racks and fluffed out the skirt a bit to see how the dress moved. The short, middle-aged shop man who had followed me around the store grabbed the hanger from my hand and said, "Don't do that!" Without a doubt, I've never had a more horrifying shopping experience in my life, and won't ever go near the store again. It's the only store I have boycotted in the 13 years I have lived in New York. -
Review from debbie h.
Manhattan, NY
9/13/2008
Suzi and Anthony assisted me on a sticky, rainy Friday afternoon in this vintage haven. Suzi is delightful and knows her fashion and Anthony kissed me bon voyage on my way out. They have some pricey couture duds that are beyond my range, but fun to look at. Highly recommend that you stop when not in a hurry, as the gems deserve time and affection. My shopping orgasm left my wallet nearly empty, but my arms full of treasure--Chloe saddle bag (new), Zac Posen bag (new), vintage shell dresses & a gold glitzy purse!
So happy I skipped Henri Bendel's, aka snooty for no reason store, to support a local shop owned by a fantastic and outrageous (like me) woman! -
Review from Gourmet G.
San Francisco, CA
11/2/2005 3 photos
This very colorful shop sells vintage clothing and accessories that look like they fell out of a time capsule. The average Jack or Jane wouldn't wear most of the outrageous merchandise on display here, but it's fun to browse through the retro fashions and remember an era when people seriously wore these duds in public. Definitely keep this in mind for Mardi Gras and Halloween.
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Review from Spence H.
New York, NY
5/24/2007
The man who runs this store (Allan??) is pretty nasty. I could be treated badly for free. I don't need to pay for it.
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Review from Arielle W.
New York, NY
2/3/2009
I wandered in here looking for a birdcage veil for my wedding in a few months, thinking that they might have something awesome. Not only didn't they have anything, but Allan was a really difficult person to work with. He definitely has awesome stuff, but he doesn't let you touch it unless he's sure you'll buy it. I told him what I was looking for and he showed me two hats, one with feathers and one with some gross netting on it. I tried them both on to see if I liked the effect, but he started glaring at me asking if I was going to buy or just play. While I can understand that perhaps he's having issues staying afloat in this economy, I don't understand his customer "service" at all. I am never going back.
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Review from megan c.
New York, NY
11/10/2005
An incredible array of vintage clothes which teeter on the thin thin line that seperates genius from insanity. When I win the lottery, I'm going to come here right away and ask the friendly proprietors to dress me. That way I can look awesome before I talk to the press. I'm not sure what other occasion would call for an outfit from Allan & Suzi, but that doesn't stop me from going there to dream. Allan & Suzi is to most vintage shops as Joan Crawford is to most women.
Listed in: Down With The Middle Class.…, Living Beyond My Means.
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Review from Alma Z.
9/14/2005
When disco died Allan & Suzi inherited the clothes. Just trying browsing around without running into platform shoes. If you're tripping to visit Funkytown this store is as good as it gets. Groovy man!
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Review from Li M.
New York, NY
12/28/2005
Funky and groovy seems to be suitable words for this store. No one can seriously come here and consider wearing this stuff to work. But it's fun to look and observe.
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Review from A.O. K.
New York, NY
3/13/2008
Allan is pretty out there. He has giant long white hair and wears outrageous sunglasses. As Spence H. said, he's a snappy one and you have to tread lightly with eccentrics like him. Given my orientation to fabulous insanity I have to say the store delights me. As a collector, the shop is really packed to the gills with sequins and silk, much of which is high end couture. Unfortunately though, as with most NYC vintage nowadays, it's wildly overpriced and some of the stuff feels random. Allan & Suzi is definitely an inspiring downtown wonder uptown and is a great place to dream, as megan c. said, but I'd sooner tell you to hit Housing Works to put together a wardrobe of vintage staples.
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Review from Steve J.
New York, NY
10/1/2010
I've had some obnoxious experiences in this store, including as a consigner. I'm not sure how honest they are. As a customer, it's a nightmare. Stay away.
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Review from Jacqui B.
Manhattan, NY
12/24/2010
Not only is this hoarders paradise bed bug central ... but the entire place stinks to high heavens with a poorly dressed sickly looking rude sales clerk to match ... take a shower and wash your store! How is this place still in business?
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Review from R M.
New York, NY
4/11/2010
I HATE Allan and Suzi. Like Mariposa, this is the only store I have ever boycotted after living in New York for 13 years. I have not set foot in that place for over 10 years, even though I would often pass it when in the neighborhood. Here's why-
I was going to school here in the late 90's, probably 19 years old, and had a friend from out of town come to visit. I was living on the upper west side at the time and we were just wandering around the neighborhood when the windows of Allan and Suzi caught our eye. So we popped in to check it out.
Now, mind you, we were young, but we were not the obnoxious type. My first and only job at that point was working in a vintage consignment clothing store in my home town. I have a high respect for vintage clothing and would NEVER be disrespectful to it or the store it is sold in.
After buzzing us in(hate when stores do that), we were barely greeted with a hello by who I came to find out was Allan, the only person other than us in the store. It seemed like he had pretty much sized us up at first glance and decided that we weren't worthy of his time. Undaunted, we began to look around. Now, although I'm sure there might be some goodies buried in all the racks full of packed clothing, it was impossible to tell because everything was so crammed in there. I have a hunch that Allan and Suzi are the type of people that have outrageous prices on everything and dont really care if it sells or not, because they are more 'colectors' a.k.a, hoarders, than actually in the mindset of selling.
Anyway, back to the story-so, my friend and I are looking through the racks and quietly chatting to eachother, when I pulled a pair of men's pants from the rack and held them up to my friend for her opinion. The next thing I know, Allan is standing directly next to me, breathing down my neck. He literally SNATCHES the pants from my hand and shoves them back on the rack. It was literally one of the weirdest shopping moments I've ever encountered. I'm sure I must have had the bigest look of shock on my face.
He then looked at me up and down and snarled "Are you two even here to shop?"
I replied "What does it look like we're doing? Why would we be here if we weren't here to shop?." Allan then rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth at me and walked away.
I then went over and joined my friend at the other end of the store. We looked around for a few more minutes, because I refused to let this weirdo run me out of the store, and then left.
I have never set foot in this store since, and will never again. I would assume that when your overpacked, outdated, dusty ass store is completely empty, you would relish the fact that a potential customer walks in. But no, it seems that Allan and Suzi dont really want or need people to shop there, and this has been echoed by several other reviews on here.
The funny thing is that I now own my own vintage clothing business. I defintely have used this experience as what NOT to do when dealing with customers.
If I could give this place negative 5 stars I would.
THIS STORE CAN SUCK IT!! -
Review from Rebecca D.
New York, NY
7/14/2010
I'd like to comment on whether or not the clothes in this store were nice, but unfortunately the owner wouldn't even let us past the entryway. My teenage cousin was visiting my boyfriend and me in NYC and wanted to check this place out (she loves costumes, theater, etc.), so we went in, only to have the (owner? employee? some dude with blonde hair) tell us nastily that he wasn't open yet (it says they open at 12:30, and we were definitely there after that time). When I suggested that that he not leave the door unlocked/open if he was closed, he yelled at us not to "get smart." Right. Too many amazing stores in NYC to waste time at one where they don't know how to treat customers. Based on the other reviews, maybe the owner just has a habit of kicking people out who don't meet his "standards?"
