Mel Stock Retires as Barney Stock Shops at 499 Broadway Closes This Fall
After more than 100 years of serving the Bayonne community, Barney Stock Hosiery Shops at 499 Broadway will close its doors permanently early this fall, as owner Mel Stock retires following almost 50 years at the helm of his family’s beloved store
Founded in 1922 by Barney Stock, Barney Stock Hosiery Shops became one of Bayonne’s most enduring small businesses — a fixture on Broadway that outlasted decades of change, chain retail, and economic upheaval.
Mel Stock and Larry Stock, sons of the founder, both went to work in the business following their graduations from NYU. While Larry had to leave the store after a short period due to poor health, Mel has spent his life at Barney Stock Shops. He took over the business, spending almost seven decades behind the counter serving generations of Bayonne families with the kind of personal service that has become a rarity in modern retail…