Westwood-Based Marty's Shoes Closing Remaining 6 Stores

WESTWOOD, N.J. - Marty’s Shoes is liquidating all six of its remaining stores in a going out of business sale, the company announced on its website.

Owner John Adams told The Record that competitors like DWS Shoes, Marshalls, and T.J. Maxx have hurt the 42-year-old chain recently and cut into sales by selling the same shoes at lower prices.

The Westwood-based chain has two Bergen County stores, in Westwood and Midland Park. The others are in Union, Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties. The stores are expected to close by the end of May, but Adams said in the report he hopes to reopen the Westwood and Garwood stores in September and keep the company’s online business going.

The chain avoided filing for bankruptcy through a legal process that assigned the company’s assets to a third party that will use them to pay off creditors, the report said.

It is the second time the chain has faced financial trouble.

Marty Samowitz and Adams founded the company in 1969 and opened the first store in Little Ferry.

At its peak, the chain had 110 stores across the tri-state area, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Samowtiz sold the business to a private equity firm in 2006 that tried to streamline the company practices. It didn’t work. In 2008, the company filed for bankruptcy. Adams rebuilt the company and reopened 32 stores.

Inside of one the Marty's stores/Patch file photo