All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: Gene Pressman's Memoir About Barney's
Date: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a rich conversation between host Alison Stewart and Gene Pressman, former CEO and third-generation co-owner of Barney’s New York, about his memoir They All Came: A Personal History of the World's Greatest Store. The discussion covers the evolution and culture of Barney’s, personal family anecdotes, the store’s impact on New York fashion, its unique approach to retail, and the bittersweet story of its eventual decline. Listeners also share their own cherished memories of Barney’s, revealing the store’s enduring place in New York’s cultural tapestry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Write the Memoir Now?

• The Truth and Folklore of Barney’s:

  • Gene expresses the need to “set the record straight” about Barney’s history, which has often been “told and written about…some true…some folklore…some of it was false.” (01:25)
  • He describes writing as an “out of body experience” requiring him to view his life from an outside, reader’s perspective. (04:37)

• Barney’s as a New York Story:

  • Gene reflects on the transformation of New York, recalling a time “uptown would never go below 42nd Street,” and the creative ferment of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. (01:59)

2. Barney’s: More Than a Department Store

• Specialty vs. Department Store:
  • Gene corrects a common misconception, explaining: “It was as big as a department store, but it had the mentality of a smaller store…The creatives were out front, accountants stayed in the back room.” (03:07)
  • On customer experience: “Never give the customer what they want because they don’t know what they want. They want you to show them.” (03:35)

3. Family Dynamics & Store Culture

• Barney Pressman (Founder):
  • Listeners recall Barney’s honesty and long-term thinking; stories highlight his reluctance to oversell and insistence on value. “The credo was select, don’t settle…Value doesn’t mean it has to be cheap. It can be expensive if it’s worth it.” (08:48)
• Bertha Pressman (Gene’s Grandmother):
  • Bertha’s unique role is detailed: “She kept [Barney] in line…She wouldn’t let any customer browse in the store. They had to sit and be introduced by a salesperson.” (09:18)
  • Anecdotes evoke an early era of personalized, hands-on retailing, replete with hand-written name lists and clouds of cigarette smoke. (09:40–10:49)

4. Customer Stories & Barney’s as a Social Nexus

• Emotional Ties and Lasting Memories:
  • Callers share personal stories, such as buying a first suit for the high holidays or a bar mitzvah, and memories of the legendary warehouse sale. (06:48; 11:16; 18:59)
  • Barney’s is described as “more than a store…for a lot of people, it was part of the culture of New York. It influenced culture, and culture influenced it.” (13:08)
• Meeting Partners & Community:
  • Gene notes: “A lot of people met their future wives there…it was really a social event.” (13:23)

5. Barney’s Unique Cool & Approach to Fashion

• European Inspiration & American Innovation:

  • Gene: “I would go to Europe and…look at everything…architecture, food, flea markets…then reinterpret that differently and take that back with you.” (15:08)
  • “You need to build relevancy. If something becomes relevant, then maybe it’ll become cool…we tried to build something to last.” (16:50)

• On ‘Coolness’ and Confidence:

  • “Cool is not something you chase…If it does become cool, it lasts for like five minutes. What we tried to do is build something to last.” (16:54)
  • Finding his voice: “In the beginning you have no clue what you’re doing…as you start to do it and people start to like what you’re doing…that builds your confidence.” (18:02)

6. Legendary Warehouse Sale

• A New York Rite of Passage:
  • Callers reminisce about waiting in lines, communal shopping, “women wearing leotards,” and impromptu tug-of-war matches over coveted items. (19:54; 20:05)
  • Gene: “Before I started selling women’s, which was in 1976, we had a huge influx of women…buying the boys’ things because they were small sizes and well made.” (20:39)

7. Philanthropy and Community Leadership

• AIDS Benefit with St. Vincent’s & Levi Strauss:
  • Amid the AIDS crisis, Barney’s organized a pioneering benefit auctioning artist-embellished Levi’s jackets, worn by icons like Madonna and Iman. (21:43–23:10)
  • Gene: “We just felt that…with everything going on, that really was our sort of obligation and to take a leadership role.” (21:43)
  • On the event’s bittersweet joy: “It was a fun event in spite of the sadness…I still have the video from that.” (23:10)

8. Barney’s Demise & Legacy

• Bankruptcy & the End of an Era:
  • Gene cites over-expansion, the 1990s recession, dependence on Japanese investment, and a series of ownership changes post-1998.
    “We had a wonderful Japanese partner…It was kind of intoxicating, you know, to be able to do these things…then sales started not to be as good...I used to call it a machine…there was five or six owners after the family left in 98…” (23:35–24:59)
• Enduring Connection:
  • Host and callers reference keeping Barney’s bags and memories as keepsakes. (24:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the store’s ethos:
  “Never give the customer what they want because they don’t know what they want. They want you to show them.” – Gene Pressman [03:35]

• On creative leadership:
  “The creatives were out front, accountants stayed in the back room.” – Gene Pressman [03:07]

• On coolness:
  “Cool is not something that you chase…You need to build relevancy. If something becomes relevant, then maybe it’ll become cool.” – Gene Pressman [16:54]

• Family impact:
  “Bertha…she kept [Barney] in line like you wouldn’t believe…most people were terrified by my grandfather…she would just give him a look and he would absolutely stand at attention.” – Gene Pressman [09:18]

• About philanthropy:
  “We just felt that…that really was our sort of obligation and to take a leadership role.” – Gene Pressman [21:43]

Listener Stories & Engagement

• Brooklyn Caller, David: Recounts Barney personally insisting on more practical, less expensive suits for growing boys, reflecting the early discount ethos. [06:48–07:52]
• Andrew from Brooklyn: Describes first visiting Barney’s for a bar mitzvah suit and being inspired to pursue a career in fashion. [11:16–13:08]
• Deborah, Hudson Valley: Shares vivid memories of the warehouse sale as an annual “feeding frenzy”; highlights importance to NYC culture. [18:59–20:05]
• Caroline: Recalls being treated to shopping at Barney’s by her aunt, Joan Rivers, and being welcomed by personable staff. [25:09–25:46]

Important Timestamps

• [01:25] Why Gene wrote the memoir now
• [03:07] Difference between department and specialty stores
• [04:37] The challenge of memoir-writing
• [06:48] First listener story: honest salesmanship
• [09:18] Bertha’s unique, formidable presence
• [13:08] Barney’s as part of NYC’s cultural DNA
• [15:08] European inspiration and building Barney’s “cool”
• [18:59] Warehouse sale stories
• [21:43] AIDS benefit leadership and impact
• [23:35] On Barney’s bankruptcy and expansion risks

Summary

This episode of All Of It with Alison Stewart offered a poignant, entertaining, and insightful look at Barney’s New York through the eyes of Gene Pressman. The conversation skillfully intertwined personal, family, and broader cultural stories, shedding light on how Barney’s shaped—and was shaped by—New York City’s evolving identity. The episode’s live listener stories further embedded Barney’s as an institution not just of commerce, but of community, memory, and style. The store’s philosophy, approach to “cool,” and willingness to take social responsibility come through loud and clear, providing valuable lessons for today’s culture and business—and for those who simply miss a great place to shop, meet, and dream.