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Aleah Hernandez, 7, of P.S. 48 sports her back-to-school look on W. 181st Street. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson
I love the smell of new notebooks and sharpened pencils. It reminds me of my youth and how excited I was to start the new school year and see my friends.
Back to school means more than just spending on school supplies and clothes. From doctors’ checkups to cell phones to new computers, setting up your child for success can be quite time consuming and expensive. The W. 181st Street commercial district can help you with all of your back to school needs, offering lower prices and convenient locations.
Considering that it’s still warm and muggy outside, it’s difficult to imagine buying coats and boots to stay warm. But in New York, back to school means preparing for freezing temperatures. Young World, the Kids Place and VIM provide one-stop shopping to meet all of your children’s clothing needs. Payless and Foot Locker offer great shoe and sneaker options, not just for your kids but for the entire family.
I remember spending hours shopping for my school gear. It was fun to match my backpack to my notebook, pencils, and pens. Gem and Duane Reade are great resources to find the supplies your kids will need for the school year.
Another part of the back to school ritual is checking your child’s health, particularly his or her vision. There are many eye doctors in the Washington Heights Business Improvement District (BID) who accept most types of insurance.
As the year winds down, the Washington Heights BID focuses on creating more marketing opportunities for local businesses. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are popular shopping holidays that provide the community with opportunities to support our local merchants. Now more than ever, Washington Heights needs you. Instead of going downtown or to New Jersey, help our local economy by shopping here on W. 181st Street.
Angelina Ramirez
Executive Director, Washington Heights Business Improvement District
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Youngworld
605 W. 181st St
212-568-6505
Anchoring the W. 181st Street strip for over 20 years, Youngworld is a children’s emporium. The basement is filled with baby cribs, strollers and other gear. The ground floor features the latest fashions and a wall of Dora the Explorer backpacks. Upstairs is the store’s school uniform center. Polo shirts, particularly khaki and navy blue, are popular this year, says assistant manager Andre Alvarado.
The Children’s Place
600 W. 181st St
212-923-7244
The customer service is so strong at The Children’s Place that it is difficult to spend five minutes there without someone asking if you need assistance. These days purple and pink make bold back-to-school statements on t-shirts, skirts, and backpacks. Boys’ clothes come in a full palette of blues. You can even get a jump on Halloween as a few costumes are already on display, as well as, sadly, winter caps.
Payless Shoe Source
556 W. 181st St
212-568-5256
The place to shop if your youngster insists on wearing shoes that light up or sport the latest superhero or cartoon character. These days the most popular shoes are basic black with Velcro straps, part of the uniform policy of many local schools. The store is offering a “buy one and get one half off” sale through the first week of September.
Duane Reade
617 W. 181st St
212-923-6912
If there was any doubt that you can fill just about every need at Duane Reade, try doing your back-to-school shopping there. Walk in and you’re greeted by a wall of everything a student needs for the first few weeks of school: binders, notebooks, pens, and memory disks. Truly trend-setting parents should explore the selection of insulated lunch boxes that have more zippers and pouches than a spacesuit.
V.I.M. Jeans and Sneakers
561-573 W. 181st St
212-781-8801
The store’s name – V.I.M. Jeans and Sneakers – only begins to scratch the surface of what’s offered inside. Besides sneakers, there are his and her floors devoted to all types of brand-name footwear. Complementing all the urban styles of jeans are racks of button-down shirts. Dozens of sweatpants are perfect for kicking back after school and on weekends. It’s hard to miss the back wall of backpacks and other bags.
Foot Locker
621 W. 181st St
212-568-6091
Northern Manhattan’s most well-rounded students are its scholar-athletes. No matter what your child’s game is, Foot Locker has the performance footwear to help them excel outside the classroom. Brand name gear can give them the edge on the court, field, track, or trail.
Gem Stores
612 W. 181st St
212-543-2083
Many local families make an annual pilgrimage to the Gem Store to stock up on discount school supplies. Paper, erasers, pencil sharpeners, crayons – you’ll be hard pressed to finder better prices on these staple items anywhere. But you can also find bigger things at Gem. For instance, if your child is old enough to need a homework desk, Gem’s the place to start looking first.
New York Optical
648 W. 181st St
212-927-4444
Concerned about your child’s eye sight? Get a checkup before the rush of back to school referrals. New York Optical takes many types of insurance for a complete eye examination. With a dedicated lab, most prescription glasses are made within a short period of time. Walk in or make an appointment every day except Sunday.
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Workshops
All workshops are at the office shared by the Washington Heights BID and NYC Business Solutions Center, 560 W. 181st St., 2nd Floor. Info: 212-928-3400
Business Financial Management
Tuesday, September 6 from 6-8pm
In English
Understanding & Improving Your Credit
Thursday, September 22, from 10am to noon
In English
10 Steps to Starting your Own Business
Wednesday, September 27, from 10am to noon
In English
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