Shopping in Short Hills

In 1887, 17-year-old Italian immigrant Salvatore Capezio moved to New York to sell theatrical shoes, opening his first shop near the old Metropolitan Opera House. Of course, he quickly found himself dealing with the intense demands of the professional dancers that frequented the store, and Capezio began challenging himself to master the delicate balance and construction of pointe shoes. By the 1930s, his designs carried dancers across the stages of Broadway, and innovations bearing his name continue to appear today in such television and film productions as Dancing with the Stars and Black Swan. Committed to the needs of performers in dance, theater, and recreation, the Capezio - Wayne team continues to fulfill young Sal's legacy by crafting footwear for ballet, tap, and ballroom dancing, gymnastics, and competitive spider killing.

Helmed by husband-and-wife team Benny Aziz and Stephanie Cohen, Benjamin Rugs and Furniture supplies home decorators with modern and classic furnishings. The two-level showroom, laid out by Stephanie who is also an interior designer, encapsulates a wide range of styles, from dignified, conservative pieces of dark varnished wood to tradition-bucking designs that use translucent material and geometric shapes.

The artisans at Express Frames preserve photos, artwork, and mementos with more than 2,000 custom and archival frames by brands such as Larson-Juhl and Roma Moulding. They cut mats with a precise, computerized process, and offer more than 10 types of glass—including nonreflective glass, museum-quality glass, and Plexiglas. The art in the shop dances off framed mirrors by Uttermost, and staffers display signed Steiner Sports prints of athletes hitting homeruns or successfully untangling a whole bunch of Christmas lights.