Shoeshiner Brawls With Passerby In Old-Timey Street Fight

In a story that reads like it was ripped from the headlines 80 years ago, a Midtown shoeshiner got into a brawl with a passerby yesterday who didn't want to hear that his kicks were dirty. The fight started at the corner of 47th Street and Sixth Avenue when the passerby objected to Don Ward's offer for a $5 deep polish and punched the 43-year-old shoeshiner. "[He] took his anger out on me because of his own dirty shoes," Ward told the Post. After the fisticuffs, the pair — as is only fitting in squabbles involving shoeshiners — spat at each other until cops arrived.

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By Ben Muessig in News on November 3, 2009 4:05 PM

Comments [rss]

zamboni

In my opinion, the idea that he is "insulting" misses the point. My problem is that he intrudes on your privacy. Manhattan is full of hustle and bustle of course, but one can still walk down the avenues for business or pleasure without someone interrupting you and demanding your attention with their "hey! Hey! HEY!" spiel. Luckily he's the only vendor jerky enough to do this; if every other vendor did it, it would be unbearable. That's what makes his behavior unreasonable.

nikki-jo

The dude has a hustle... Can't knock it!

rdc

I work on that corner and this guy can be a little annoying. I've never been straight up insulted by him, though. Usually I find his spiel pretty funny.

Neverhaditsogood

Most people would say he has no customer savy but you people say kick his ass. He should have AIDS and get his stuff all over you.

JackoPaidOffVictims

Now, go get your F#CKING shinebox!

sexisicilian

Ha! Great scene. I loved DeNiro's come back: "Nah, you insulted him a little bit ..." Classic:)

Noreaster76

As soon as I read the headline, I knew who the shoeshiner was. The guy is trying to make a living, but yes, I have to agree it would be pretty freaking annoying to have to deal with that every day.

JacqueMehoff

charge him with assault,

he obviously works in the area. just another entitled ahole. blablabla, get a real job.

Potty Boy

Sounds like the dick got his comeuppance. That's what he gets for being disrespectful.

LinkMan

It was only a matter of time before someone overreacted to that shoeshiner's taunts.

His basic M.O. is to insult passersby. Occasionally he even throws in profanity for good measure.

hotstepper

it must be "Fisticuffs Day" at gothamist.

djwerdna

I work in a building on that corner, and I hate walking past that shoeshiner because he is so aggressive about telling you that you need your shoes shined.

Jason B

I work on the same block, and I agree -- that shoeshiner likes to get in people's faces. Not a pleasant gent. Nice to see that someone responded appropriately.