Customers lament closing of Goldman Bros. store

Matthew Kornberg, 47, and his son Ethan, 9, emerged from Goldman Bros. Saturday morning with two shopping bags packed with a new football, clothes and sweatpants.

"Store Closing. Everything Must Go!" read a bright orange sign on the door as it shut behind them.

"It's sad," said Kornberg, of Jericho. "I shopped here since I was 8 years old. I brought my son here because I used to shop here. I bought my first Puma suede sneakers here."

Customer traffic was brisk Saturday, apparently because of the sale signs amid the helmets, baseball gloves and jerseys.

For many, the closing of the longtime athletic gear store on Broadway in Hicksville is like losing an old friend. For decades, Goldman supplied uniforms, jerseys and jackets to scores of little leaguers, soccer teams and hockey players. It offered sweatshirts and work boots to sanitation workers, carpenters and electricians. If it didn't have what you wanted, Goldman would order it, loyal customers recall.

But Goldman has fallen victim to the worst economic downturn since its opening in 1939.

"It's become too difficult," said Win Goldman, whose grandfather started the business. He cited oversaturation of retail stores - the Broadway Mall is just up the street - greater competition, higher costs.

"It's a sad commentary on the current state of the region," said Goldman, who plans to close by the end of the year, but has yet to specify a date. Goldman said business was off 25 percent in the past three years.

Ben Palillo, 8, of Farmingdale, bounced a basketball down the aisles alongside his father, Chris, 41. "They always help you a lot," Ben said.

"Customer service is very good," agreed his father, who said he has been buying his work clothes for his electrical facilities management job from Goldman for the past 10 years.

"Whatever you want, we'll do," salesman Larry Schneider told a customer.

But service bows to price in tough times.

"It's a shame," said Charles Diamond, 64, of Plainedge, who has shopped at Goldman for about 35 years. "A lot of stuff they carry, I don't find anyplace else." His wife, Elizabeth, 59, said, "They have everything here."

A few aisles over, Stanley Kacprzycki, 51, was shopping with his wife, Marybeth, 44, and 9-year-old twins Amy and Matthew. "It's a family-friendly business," said Kacprzycki, who grew up in Hicksville and still lives in the community. "I feel sad. It's been here for so long. My mother shopped here a lot."

Steve Garofalo, 56, of Ronkonkoma, another 35-year customer, said he overheard a couple say they had come from New Jersey.

"It's almost like when Fortunoff's went out," Garofalo said. "People were heartbroken in the community. You're not in business for 71 years without having lifelong customers."