Are you a local business?
Closed for Business: Soula, 184 Fifth Avenue
Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 4:19PM 
Soula, the boutiquey shoe store on Fifth Avenue between Degraw and Sackett Streets, closed on Sunday after five years on the avenue.
Run by Rick Lee, a former shoe buyer for Barney's and merchandising director at Cole Haan, the small store sold quality footwear for men, women, and kids. The merchandise changed regularly according to the most up-to-date styles, and prices were always reasonable.
Here's the note left on the door:
"At the end of the day on Sunday, July 22, we will be closing this location. Please visit our Smith Street store or our new Williamsburg location, opening at the end of August.
All store credits will be transferred to our Smith Street store.
Thank you Park Slope for five great years and looking forward to seeing you at our other locations!"
Photo via Park Slope Stoop
Closed for Business in Storefronts
Reader Comments (19)
Their selection had really gone downhill.
It was obvious they were closing, there's been a for rent sign hung on the building for 6 months now. Surprised it's just been noticed.
The foot traffic on 5th ave doesn't support the rents, seems that mostly you'd have to sell booze to succeed.
Not true, Brendan. DNA Footwear, Something Else, and the more popular women's boutiques always have folks inside.
This place definitely had a higher price point, and I guess it was hard to compete on fifth selling more expensive shoes. They still have another location. They'll be fine. Do what's best for business.
Any clue what is moving there?
This is devastating. It's the only place in the neighborhood with a properly curated selection of shoes.
Thank you park slope for 5 great years. Unfortunately our landlord raised our rent by 50% and we could not sustain the increase.
In response to dean street, I read your commentaries quite often and think you are of a foolish mind with no apparent sense of what is actually going on. I am certain you are one of those kind individuals that do not support local establishments.
You are incorrect. I have bought MANY pair of shoes from Soula (Park Slope and Carroll Gardens) but I noticed things going downhill at the Park Slope location in terms of selection and customer service a couple years ago. Same shoes day in, month out.
I will no longer shop at your other locations since you seem to be so nasty. I will make sure to tell my friends not to shop at your stores either since you think it's good business to come onto this blog and make accusations which are unfounded. I ONLY shop local!
I was really sad to see they'd closed up this location. as for Something Else and DNA, the selection doesn't even compete w/ Soula, IMHO. And I personally disagree w/ the selection having gone downhill. I stepped in just last month on a fluke and walked out w/ 3 pairs of shoes - 2 pairs of sandals and 1 pair of Addidas kicks you'd never find elsewhere...or at least not in the neighborhood.
the only other shoe store I can almost guarantee walking out with something would be ERIC on 7th.
I heard the guy posting as Soula doesn't want lesbians eating his froyo either.
@Cuban, that's supposed to be witty...?
signed,
Lesbian
told ya CubanSlope!
You all must be new here. Where Diddles at?
Dean street
We have been active part of this community for more than the years we have had our location.
We can never discourage you from what you feel will make your ego better but we have always delivered great service as well kept our product unique
It's shameful you think your opinion has some relevance.
Good luck.
@Cuban, no, actually not new here. just don't find your comment funny at all.
El Presidente: Did you miss the entire thread where someone posted as "froyo," pretending to be the owner of the place on 5th and Prospect, and making comments about lesbians and froyo?
If you're going to be this thin-skinned and jump to conclusions, don't comment on blogs.
Well lookee here, everyone! What have we here?! We've got one guy falling for the old "fake owner" comment trick for, I dunno, the thousandth time, and another who doesn't like others saying the word "lesbian." Methinks some people think way too much of themselves while hanging out on blog comment section. Hey deanstreet! How's that piece of shit self-righteous bike of yours? You're not that important that actual business owners are going to flock to reply to you. Most likely, yeah, they're a fake. Put that in your bike basket and smoke it. Also, lesbolesbolesbolesbolesbo!
Peace out, bitches. Until next time you need a little dose of reality.
Bye Soula! Don't let the door hit ya on the way out!
I was going to start cussing out all of you, and cussing out the God above for taking away Soula and for taking so many of our fine businesses (along with the hopes of dreams of local business owners), and cussing out Mom for, yet again, failing to add powdered sugar to my French toast, but then I had a fro yo and all was right in the world once again. Fro yo: when you really want to punch someone's sack, sack up to some fro yo instead.
Maybe they should have sold froyo out of a shoe. They may still be in business. I think Ample Hills will do that with The Munchies if you ask them to.