Sneak Peek: Frye Georgetown Flagship Store

Frye, maker of authentic leather boots and accessories and the oldest continuously operating shoe company in the U.S., will open its Georgetown flagship store on Wisconsin Avenue some time after the Labor Day holiday. 

Patch got a sneak peek at the new store, which smells comfortingly like new leather and a chance to ask Michael Petry, the Creative Director for The Frye Company, a few questions about the Georgetown location. 

Frye has two other flagship stores: one in Soho in New York and another in Boston. A fourth will open in Chicago in the near future. 

Once the company set its sites on DC, they knew they wanted to be in Georgetown.

"We knew the community was ready for us," he said. "Architecturally it was really the right spot."

He said they knew the former Papa-Razzi' Italian restaurant's space was on the market, but when they first saw the bar setting, they had some doubts. But Petry said once they learned the history of the building — the oldest fire house in DC — they knew this would be the right place for them to open their DC flagship.

"We really look for spaces that are indigenous to the brand," explained Petry.

The store is separated into "rooms" that feature particular lines, like the historical line in one area right near the front or the men's "library" or "whiskey" room, each with its own specialized aesthetic. 

Throughout the store you will notice small touches that harken back to the building's history as a fire house. Brass fire extinguishers and other apparatus sit in the background on shelves as the boots take center stage. 

Several staff members, whom Petry called "specialists," were on hand Tuesday. 

For a brand with 150 years of experience, there's a lot for staff members to learn about how the shoes are made, why they last, the types of leather used and more.

"Training is a big deal here," said Petry. 

Tuesday eager future customers tried on several occasions to walk into the store, Petry said there has been quite a lot of interest from neighbors and shoppers since they started work on transforming the space.

"It's a really nice feeling," he said.

They have not set an exact opening date, but expect it will be shortly after Labor Day.

While Georgetown neighbors and shoppers are ready for Frye to be open, Frye will need a few more days to be ready for Georgetown.