Top 10 Shopping Hotspots

While you might be in town to run the ING New York City Marathon, it’s inevitable that your thoughts will turn to shopping at some point. There are just so many bargains to be had whatever it is you are looking for, with prices generally much cheaper than you’ll find at home.

The city boasts some excellent shopping areas and massive department stores, and although New York City has in recent times become overrun with chain stores, there are still enough independent retailers in which to find something unique.

It is worth remembering if you plan to head out on a shopping trip that there is no need to set out early; generally you won’t find many stores open before 10am and most are open until 7pm or even later.

Macy’s, Herald Square, 34th Street
One of NYC’s most famous shopping icons. It is the world’s largest department store, so large in fact that it even has its own visitors’ centre, cloakroom and personal guides/shoppers (free of charge) to help acquaint you with 2.1 million square feet of retail space. Over 500,000 different items are spread over ten floors – including a few half floors in between! It’s one of those places where you can get hopelessly and blissfully lost. One day sales are popular on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Bloomingdale’s, 3rd Avenue and 59th Street
Bloomies, as it’s known to New Yorkers, is another giant department store stocking just about anything you could want. It also has its own visitors’ centre on the first floor balcony, which should be your first port of call – they’ll even take your coat and bags if you’re already laden with shopping when you get there. Weekdays before lunch are the least crowded times but if there happens to be a sale on, be prepared for things to get a little chaotic. Take home your purchases in a famous Big Brown Bag – a souvenir in itself!

Saks Fifth Avenue, 50th Street and 5th Avenue
Stocks the finest in both women’s and men’s designer collections, including sportswear, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, fragrances and jewellery. It’s shopping without the mayhem, perhaps due to the costliness of some items, but good sale items can also be bagged. There are branches of Saks all over the US, but this is the flagship one, and there’s something for everyone here, from clothing departments to cosmetics and fragrance departments.

Loehmann's, 7th Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets
Considered by many locals as the mother of all discount stores for designer fashions. It is the place to come for designer merchandise and familiar names at exceptionally large discounts. Their designated ‘Back Room’ area is the place to find the best offers (often up to 65% cheaper than some of the main department stores) on some of the most sought after labels. It has been operating since 1921 and is the name on the lips of many bargain-hunting but fashion-conscious New Yorkers.

FAO Schwarz, 5th Avenue at 58th Street
The famed toy store is one of those places for kids of all ages out there. Although it briefly shut for around ten months after some financial difficulties, the company’s flagship store reopened just before Christmas 2004, although it now focuses on unique and exclusive toys. It’s worth exploring, if only to see some of those exclusive and hard-to-find products, and also the giant piano keys made famous in the film Big. The prices here probably mean you’re unlikely to part with your cash unless it’s something you can’t really buy elsewhere.