A RED BANK FASHION INSTITUTION BRINGS A LEGACY OF STYLE, LUXURY, AND PERSONALIZED SHOPPING INTO THE MODERN AGE

BY ERIK SCHONING PHOTOS BY ROBERT NUZZIE

The traditional retail-customer relationship is often a simple formula: a quick interaction, perhaps a recommendation or two, and a final purchase. For decades, Garmany, a white-glove, designer clothing boutique in Red Bank, has been redefining that relationship, creating a first-class experience that goes far beyond simple shopping. For locals and visitors alike, Garmany has long served as a community gathering place.

Garmany’s story spans generations. In the 1970s, Larry Garmany opened a clothing store in East Harlem called Capry. He soon expanded to a location in Park Slope. After years of success, he came to Red Bank in the summer of ‘89. (In 2005, they moved to their current location on Broad Street.) Johnell Garmany, Larry’s son and the owner of the business today, remembers those early days well. “My father always told me to be humble about myself, but I will brag about him,” Garmany said. “He was credited by many people as one of the reasons Red Bank made that comeback in the ‘90s and onward. When he first moved in, it was called ‘Deadbank.’ McDonald’s had just gone out of business. That’s how bad it was. Today, he is considered one of the anchors.”

Larry Garmany passed in 2015, leaving his family and community reeling. Johnell Garmany had big shoes to fill, moving from the creative side of the business to running a company that his father had expertly steered for years. It was a difficult transition, but today Johnell carries on his father’s legacy in grand style.

For the uninitiated, walking into Garmany can seem like stepping into another world. One of Larry’s founding principles was to make his store a welcoming place. As his son explained, the goal has always been to ensure customers feel comfortable spending time in the space, whether getting a shoe shine, enjoying a coffee or scotch at the bar and lounge, or catching a movie in the kids theater.

“It’s a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere,” Garmany said. “We have a lot of people who have never shopped with us before who are intimidated because of the level of brands we carry. But it’s a very inviting atmosphere. You walk in and you’re part of the family. My philosophy is that I have the world’s biggest living room.”

Garmany compares the in-store shopping experience to working with a personal shopper. Unlike other stores, where nabbing a sale is the number one goal, Garmany trains his staff to prioritize honesty with the client. What’s important is that the client looks and feels good. This genuine, non-pushy approach has been a key component of Garmany’s continued success over the years, even in the age of online shopping; that personalized touch is one of the store’s largest assets.

In recent years, Garmany has seen an explosion in its womenswear department to rival menswear, a surge built on the popularity of brands like Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, and Zimmermann.

“After years of struggling with womens wear, I would say about seven or eight years ago, we hit our stride,” Garmany said. “And now it’s a machine. It seems like we overperform our inventory consistently. It’s amazing to see that, and amazing to see the enthusiasm of our clients when they walk in. It’s something that was my goal when my dad passed many years ago, and I think we surpassed that.”

Garmany handles all the men’s buying himself, often traveling to Italy to shop and source. One of his favorite aspects of fashion is experiencing what’s new, the thrill of handling a swatch then seeing a finished product months later. Any brand carried in store – such as Brunello Cucinelli, Zegna, and Kiton is the product of years of collaboration and relationship-building that goes back to the early days of the business. But Garmany is always on the lookout for exciting upstart brands to fill out that roster.

“We’re always looking for new things,” Garmany said. “My favorite thing to do, especially when I go to Italy, is to find those smaller brands that give you great value at a great price point that you can’t find anywhere else. That’s my favorite thing to do. At the end of the day, I don’t want to just sell $12,000 suits. It’s nice to have something that I can give at a better price point that people can say, ‘Wow, I can’t believe it’s only that much.’”

Today, the store is thriving, no small feat in an era where brick-and-mortar businesses must compete not only with rivals down the street but a global online marketplace. But Garmany stands out in a crowded field. Offering on-site tailoring, made-to-measure service, appointment shopping, and even an emergency hotline for last-minute clothing emergencies, the company stands out for its willingness to go above and beyond for the customer.

“We’ve had 50 years of great history,” Garmany said. “Obviously, 99% of the credit should be given to my father. Because without him, none of this would have happened. I’ve been lucky to find the right people, and they’re amazing. We wouldn’t be seeing this level of success that we’ve had in the last few years without them. And I have to give credit to my incredible family. My wife, Stefanie, she put up with a lot when my father passed. It was very difficult. For two years, I was reeling from the death of my best friend. I had one primary goal for this business: to not mess it up.”

Today, almost ten years after Larry Garmany’s passing, one thing is certain: the business remains in good hands.

Garmany

121 Broad Street, Red Bank  / 732.576.8500 / garmany.com