'Childhood Disappearing, But Not Memories': Customers Share As Essex County Store Closes

LIVINGSTON, NJ — After Patch ran a story earlier this month about the upcoming closing of Jay's Shoe Box — a large children's shoe store in Livingston that has served area families since 1954 — residents began sharing stories of seemingly simpler times.

Owner Ted Wickner said the store, which his father Jay opened at age 19, will close largely because of staffing issues and changing times — but he's grateful for the memories. READ MORE: Touched Their Soles: Jay's Shoe Box To Close July 1.

"I used to come help my dad when I was very little," Ted said. "When I was 5, 6, I'd clean the mirrors ... We went from expensive Italian shoes for little kids to sneakers. Things come and go — Uggs, Crocs, you go with the flow."

"Thank you, Ted," wrote a woman on Livingston Patch's Facebook page, "... thank you for your generosity for giving many of my students in Newark new sneakers to wear. You never said no."

"Always got my shoes there," said a woman on the Springfield Patch Facebook page. "I remember it feeling like an adventure when we went to Jay's, and then Roslyn's for lunch! Childhood disappearing, but not the memories. Miss those days."

Her comment resulted in a flurry of other comments about other stores gone by, with one woman noting, "Rosyln's had the best egg salad on the planet."

"End of an era and a legendary local business," wrote a man, about Jay's. "Back in the day (before online retail) finding a size 14 sneaker was next to impossible and Ted would provide me with a ‘not for public’ Nike catalog and custom order a pair of size 14s for me and have them delivered right to the store!! Great customer service!!"

Several people said they brought young relatives to the store even when they didn't live in the area:

"Truly the end of an era! generations shopped at Jay’s. My mother took me and my sister, I took my daughter and son, and I took my granddaughters, from Long Island, and my grandsons from Randolph! Nobody had shoes and sneakers like Jay’s! Ted you will be missed!"

A staffer at the store confirmed on Wednesday that the last day is Thursday, June 30, although Ted had said they may reopen for some sort of sale in August.

At 64, Ted said he's not retiring from business, as he'll stay involved in his family's real estate firm.

" I want to thank them for all the years," he said, of his customers. "We appreciate them. They're all coming in and saying 'It's sad.' I appreciate all their good wishes. It's humbling."

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