[All photos by Rey Lopez]
It's purposefully hard to tell what's new and what's old at The Frye Company's flagship shop in Georgetown, set to open within the month. Out went the deep fryer used by the space's former occupants, Pappa Razzi restaurant, and in came hundreds of styles of boots and leather goods, antiques from Brimfield, Massachusetts, and timeless finishes to restore the space to its former glory as "the oldest firehouse in Washington.
"Finding the availability to get the oldest firehouse in D.C. was a huge selling point for us," said Michael Petry, the brand's creative director. The renovation was a year in the making, starting with a total gut of the space. The brand even chatted about their renovation with like-minded Georgetown retailers, like Patagonia and Billy Reid.
The Georgetown space has the same installation of 6,000 leather harnesses hanging from the ceiling as the flagship Frye stores in New York and Boston, but this is the first store with a staircase. Upstairs, there will be comfy seating, a museum-style wall of Frye classics, and a gallery where Petry hopes to showcase local art. The vibe of the store will be relaxed and lived-in. "You can come in, and try on 100 boots," Petry said. And there are a bazillion boots to choose from, with the store divided into sections featuring classic styles like the Engineer and Campus boots, the Americana-inspired 150th anniversary collection, to tiny, adorable Harness boots for newborns.
—Adele Chapin
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