In downtown New York, $7 will get you a shoe shine with a view.
Queens-based Kevin White Jr. and his father opened Star Shine NYC three weeks ago in Manhattan's financial district -- a place where businessmen can have their shoes shined by attractive young women dressed in tight black tank tops and short shorts.
White told Irene Plagianos at DNAinfo: “Finance guys are so busy and stressed, this is a chance to unwind and relax. It’s definitely an upgraded shoe-shine experience.”
Plagianos spoke to one of the employees, a 19-year-old student, who seemed satisfied with her new job. “It’s actually fun,” she told Plagianos. “Everyone’s been nice, and it's something to do while I'm in school."
Media reactions to the new business have been mostly negative. "It’s like Hooters, but fewer wings, more degrading?" Jordyn Taylor at the New York Observer quipped. Kelsea Stahler at Hollywood.com may have assessed it best: "Rule of thumb for starting a new business: If it would appear tawdry even to the characters on 'Mad Men,' you're doing it wrong."
Despite these reactions, White maintains that business is booming. “We’ve been surprised by how many corporations have been reaching out to us,” he told DNAinfo.
If you work at a "corporation" that Star Shine services, we would love to hear about the reaction in your workplace. Tell us about it in the comments, and feel free to send photos to women@huffingtonpost.com.
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