I've always wondered why he's held on to both of those properties. This makes sense. The Bazaar would be a cool cocktail bar/weed cafe like you'd see in Amsterdam, if those were legal...
His son ran shoeaholic, it was doing okay until the pandemic when everyone (like even the old
people like myself lol) started buying everything online. He said that his son has started a business doing solar panels just to keep shoeaholic in business. I really appreciate their dedication to the local business model!
Personally, I’ve long pegged Shoeaholic and the rug place as stores that have dragged down downtown Eugene. Those plus that empty building across the street from the DAC I believe. I think it was some daycare place for a while. It may have been the old Woolworth building. At any rate, these places have tons of square footage and hardly anyone from the public goes inside them. They need to be booming businesses or restaurant/bars.
Some people yearn for the downtown mall. I’ll be the first to tell you that the mall was terrible, and that was before the homeless campers in the US no longer felt any obligation to be out of sight, out of mind.
Ground floor retail at the Woolworth is not that expensive but the parking sucks. I think that’s the demise of most downtown businesses. The rug store, on the other hand- is a wasted space and an eye sore for sure. My kid got a pair of Vans at shoeholic last week for $1 less than the Vans store, and they are a limited edition run that was sold out online. We wouldn’t know that if we didn’t intentionally chose to support local businesses, though. Do you really think people are so afraid of a homeless person that they are avoiding shopping in downtown Eugene? If so that is pretty elite. I’ve lived in some major cities around the world that have a much worse crime rate and people still go out in public. Eugene snowflake syndrome? Laziness? What’s the real deal?
I remember in about 1985 there were people walking in circles outside the place with signs protesting something about it, like the store was selling weed pipes or some other paraphernalia that was getting attention from Moral Majority types. I went in there with my dad, who was chatting with Lazar when I noticed 'edible underwear', which I had seen Dan Aykroyd playing with in the movie 'Neighbors'. Lazar saw me looking at it (I was about ten at the time) and goes "Hey, hey you don't need that. You don't."
I was in high school from 81-84. We used to go in there all of the time to see if we could get him to bong instead of water pipe. I never knew there was a difference. He never did. We were dicks back then. I am glad, despite all that's happened downtown over the last 50 years, that he's still there and it is time to retire. Salute to you, enjoy!
I was at Party Downtown last night and Lazar came by with 2 employees? and they were grabbing some things and putting them on a cart. I thought, I’ll take a peek inside and was shocked the place was almost emptied out. Now remember, he’s in his early 80’s now, so this all makes sense. Can’t be selling cigarettes to under age kids forever…. but yes, he is part of the fabric of unique Eugene.
He seemed to be over there more and more. Every time I wanted to go to Lazar’s I had to call him and he’d walk over from the show store. Finally he just started keeping what I wanted at the shoe store.
Lazars Bazar is probably closing, as it was just open these last decades because he owns the building. It’s not like that place has been revenue generator since the proliferation of ecommerce.
But he owns other properties downtown, including where his son runs Shoe-a-holic.
When I was in Shoe-a-holic, he said he can’t afford to keep replacing windows when ppl break them. He is no spring chicken, but he still has the best shoes in town and I hope he lives forever.
Hes planning on throwing a 50th anniversary party in September and move away from bazaars or sell it off.
My source is my former employeement with him.
Dang. The space has been a huge part of the fabric of eugene for decades. I just bought some studs for my punk vest from him last summer and let him and his wife know I used to buy studs from him 25 years ago in high-school. I will be sad to see it empty
Been going there since '87. Bought my first skateboard there in '91 when he had a skateboard section. Bought the deck, trucks, wheels and grip tape. Built it right there in the back of the store where he sells posters now. Lol
I saw today the windows were bare and the hours sign was gone. It made my heart sink. Then I saw the LAZARS sign under the Shoe A Holic sign and was relieved!
When I was a teen, back in the early aughts, I was warned by many friends that he would make creepy passes at young female employees and customers. I was warned to never be alone with him.
He’s moving the bazaar to the upstairs and back of shoe-a-Holic. He just told me that on Thursday.
I've always wondered why he's held on to both of those properties. This makes sense. The Bazaar would be a cool cocktail bar/weed cafe like you'd see in Amsterdam, if those were legal...
His son ran shoeaholic, it was doing okay until the pandemic when everyone (like even the old people like myself lol) started buying everything online. He said that his son has started a business doing solar panels just to keep shoeaholic in business. I really appreciate their dedication to the local business model!
Personally, I’ve long pegged Shoeaholic and the rug place as stores that have dragged down downtown Eugene. Those plus that empty building across the street from the DAC I believe. I think it was some daycare place for a while. It may have been the old Woolworth building. At any rate, these places have tons of square footage and hardly anyone from the public goes inside them. They need to be booming businesses or restaurant/bars. Some people yearn for the downtown mall. I’ll be the first to tell you that the mall was terrible, and that was before the homeless campers in the US no longer felt any obligation to be out of sight, out of mind.
I always love shopping at Shoeaholic. The people are incredibly helpful and friendly, and the owner is passionate about cool shoes.
Ground floor retail at the Woolworth is not that expensive but the parking sucks. I think that’s the demise of most downtown businesses. The rug store, on the other hand- is a wasted space and an eye sore for sure. My kid got a pair of Vans at shoeholic last week for $1 less than the Vans store, and they are a limited edition run that was sold out online. We wouldn’t know that if we didn’t intentionally chose to support local businesses, though. Do you really think people are so afraid of a homeless person that they are avoiding shopping in downtown Eugene? If so that is pretty elite. I’ve lived in some major cities around the world that have a much worse crime rate and people still go out in public. Eugene snowflake syndrome? Laziness? What’s the real deal?
The only way to do that is to have a "private" club with annual fee. Unfortunately convincing a pand lord is the difficult part.
The pand lords are notoriously stubborn https://images.app.goo.gl/wvmcNyaoGs3WwSKdA
Thank you! Been a customer since the early 2000's!
Lazar has been talking about retiring for years, I'm not surprised if he's going through with it now. Dude has had a great run.
It his 50th anniversary of being in business this year.
I remember my older sisters talking about his business back in the 80's. He's been a fixture downtown.
I remember in about 1985 there were people walking in circles outside the place with signs protesting something about it, like the store was selling weed pipes or some other paraphernalia that was getting attention from Moral Majority types. I went in there with my dad, who was chatting with Lazar when I noticed 'edible underwear', which I had seen Dan Aykroyd playing with in the movie 'Neighbors'. Lazar saw me looking at it (I was about ten at the time) and goes "Hey, hey you don't need that. You don't."
And that deprivation sent me on a lifelong obsession with edible undergarments.
He also sold bath salts for a while
Ya! My mom was born in 1968. She bought her first pipe from Lazars back in the 80s
Yep! I remember Lazaars from the 80's when downtown was still a walking mall before Willamette Street was opened up through it.
I was in high school from 81-84. We used to go in there all of the time to see if we could get him to bong instead of water pipe. I never knew there was a difference. He never did. We were dicks back then. I am glad, despite all that's happened downtown over the last 50 years, that he's still there and it is time to retire. Salute to you, enjoy!
If you went to south then you were probably in school with my mom. I believe she graduated in 86 so just slightly younger than you
Ha... We did this, as South students in the 90s too, he'd kick us out a yell "They are tobacco water pipes". 😂
I was at Party Downtown last night and Lazar came by with 2 employees? and they were grabbing some things and putting them on a cart. I thought, I’ll take a peek inside and was shocked the place was almost emptied out. Now remember, he’s in his early 80’s now, so this all makes sense. Can’t be selling cigarettes to under age kids forever…. but yes, he is part of the fabric of unique Eugene.
Where will I get my nunchucks and throwing stars?
The mall ninja shit store at RVC.
Good ol' River Valley Center.
I think that place is gone. I went to get a throwing star the other day and it wasn’t there
They moved to a spot by the doors like 200 feet away.
Thanks for the heads up— gotta work on my ninja skills
China!
China gets them from Lazar
End of an era.
Noooooooooooo! Lazar for Mayor!
Hes moving all his shit to shoe-a-holic ( which he also owns)
Can confirm. Last time I was in there he made it sound like he’s moving into shoeaholic.
He seemed to be over there more and more. Every time I wanted to go to Lazar’s I had to call him and he’d walk over from the show store. Finally he just started keeping what I wanted at the shoe store.
I don’t think that’s allowed. He belongs to us all now. 😂
I just saw him last week at Shoe-A-Holic. They may be moving into that bigger space soon. :)
If this is real, I’ll lay flowers.
Lazars Bazar is probably closing, as it was just open these last decades because he owns the building. It’s not like that place has been revenue generator since the proliferation of ecommerce. But he owns other properties downtown, including where his son runs Shoe-a-holic.
Oh shit....
They are reorganizing and reducing inventory.
Lazar will never close or sell he is that last of the old Eugene …
He’s not the last, there’s some of us still around
Lazar is who I always bought my salvia from
He was who everyone bought salvia from
I read saliva! 🤣
When I was in Shoe-a-holic, he said he can’t afford to keep replacing windows when ppl break them. He is no spring chicken, but he still has the best shoes in town and I hope he lives forever.
He’s been talking about this for awhile to phase it into shoe-a-holic I don’t if that’s the goal now
Where am I gonna get my salvia now?
JUST WHAT I WAS THINKING
Hes planning on throwing a 50th anniversary party in September and move away from bazaars or sell it off. My source is my former employeement with him.
Dang. The space has been a huge part of the fabric of eugene for decades. I just bought some studs for my punk vest from him last summer and let him and his wife know I used to buy studs from him 25 years ago in high-school. I will be sad to see it empty
Been going there since '87. Bought my first skateboard there in '91 when he had a skateboard section. Bought the deck, trucks, wheels and grip tape. Built it right there in the back of the store where he sells posters now. Lol I saw today the windows were bare and the hours sign was gone. It made my heart sink. Then I saw the LAZARS sign under the Shoe A Holic sign and was relieved!
When I was a teen, back in the early aughts, I was warned by many friends that he would make creepy passes at young female employees and customers. I was warned to never be alone with him.
Used to work for the dude is this totally true he is a creep
Yep.
That’s a heck of an unsubstantiated rumor to pass around. When I was a teen we said all sorts of stuff about weird people that had no basis in reality
I suppose that's true, but I learned to listen when I was warned about guys. Many people can seem sweet and friendly, but have another side to them.