SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — An orange Syracuse t-shirt helps sustain Manny’s on the Hill, a small business on Marshall Street.
Most Syracuse University students go home for the summer, which means less clientele for sportswear shops on Marshall Street. Owner, Bill Nester says this fall marks 75 years that Manny’s on the Hill has been in business. Nester has been with Manny’s since 1983. It’s one of the longest standing businesses on Marshall Street.
Nester says his shop is unique. What they offer keeps customers coming back. “Our customer service, our friendly attitude…and our merchandise…we’re like the Macy’s of Marshall Street,” Nester said. “We have high quality merchandise that lasts for years and years and years.”
There’s one item that seems to keep revenue coming in. “Our best-selling t-shirt is just this orange t-shirt with the Syracuse arch…that’s hung around here for as long as I’ve been here for about 40 years. It’s one of our traditional t- shirts that just, never goes away,” Nester said.
Some businesses on the same block have closed after the pandemic. Other storefronts are now up for sale. Nester, however, remains confident in the sustainability of his business. “We’ll be here for another, you know, 25 years or longer…we’ll make it to 100,” Nester said.
Manny’s on the Hill is hopeful that by the fall, regular business will start to resume. “Fall tends to be our busiest season, you know, Football games…same with basketball…our busiest day typically, throughout the whole year is Parent’s weekend,” Nester said. With Parents weekend just around the corner, Nester says Manny’s plans to hire more staff.
