MOSCOT was born in Hyman Moscot’s humble pushcart full of eyeglasses at the turn of the 20th century, and has proceeded to blossom into three retail locations and a legacy of expertise in eyecare and eyewear carried on by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The current owner, Harvey Moscot, represents the fourth generation to run the shops — an incredible accomplishment as Dunkin’ Donuts and Walmart continue to encroach on the city’s retail spaces. Of course working with family has its fair share of ups and downs, and we recently asked Harvey to touch on the highs and lows of navigating New York’s shopping scene as a son, brother and father. He immediately highlighted the intimate aspect of working with kin: “Working with family means trust. You always have a strong sense of trust with your family. And now with my son, the fifth generation, entering the business, I will hand the value of trust down once again.”
But working with family can sometimes get complicated, as Harvey learned one hectic holiday season: He remembers a time in the late 1990s, “when my brother decided to take off ‘Black Friday’ — the Friday after Thanksgiving, which historically was the busiest day in retail, especially at MOSCOT. So it was understood that no Moscot should ever take this day off. This particular Black Friday, the counter at our Orchard Street Shop was overwhelmingly busy, prompting my father to stand up in front of all of our customers and declare in a very loud voice. ‘My dear customers, please be patient. My other son decided to take today off, so we’ll be with you as soon as possible.’ Wow was my dad mad! And boy did my brother hear about it! It was a moment I’ll never forget. And a lesson I’ll never forget, either — all Moscot hands on deck on Black Friday!”
So there you have it: working with family is sort of like doing anything else with your family — they’re there to support you, encourage you and make your dreams a reality — but they still find a way to get under your skin like no one else can!
All images © Moscot