Especially notable is their full-service Birkenstock repair department where master repairman Paul Tinkerhess and his staff do whatever it takes to bring your Birkenstocks back to life, from resoling and cork patching to complete remanufacturing with original German parts, to lifts and other custom modifications. In the rare event that your Birkenstocks are beyond repair, Fourth Ave Birkenstock even offers a "cash for clunkers" credit toward a new pair!

Other brands sold include Altra, Blundstone, Bogs, Correct Toes, Darn Tough, Finn Comfort, Fits, Haflinger, Injinji, Glerups, Lems, Maggie's Organics, Mata Traders, Peapack Mitten Co., Sockwell, Smartwool, Telic, Think!, Tilley, and Tinkerhess. Look for the Barbie doll with little cork Birkenstocks Paul made by the counter. Paul says they first had to heat and stretch the ankles to correct her contracted achilles tendon problem (from wearing high heels for so long) and now, with a new sense of empowerment, she prefers to be called "Barbara".

Around the net

• Employees give commuter benefits the green light, workspan, April 2002

“We are a small company, so we were pleased to find that the Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative offers employers a lot of flexibility regarding the types of commuter benefits you must offer in order to qualify,” he said.