A True Family Business: Wagner's Luggage To Close

STAMFORD, CT — After almost 170 years in business, Wagner's Fine Luggage & Gifts is closing its doors.

Located at 1111 High Ridge Rd., in Stamford, Wagner's has served the tri-state area going back to when Abraham Lincoln was president.

The store, which specializes in luggage, briefcases, travel accessories, gifts and small leather goods, first settled in nearby Rye, N.Y. when Herman Wagner opened up shop in 1853. It was eventually taken over by a man named David Wolfe, who moved the store to Greenwich.

Current owner, Ed Greenberg, married into the Wolfe family and has been operating the store for about 50 years. Wagner's moved out of Greenwich in 1995 and into their current spot on High Ridge Rd.

"We consider this probably the oldest luggage store in the country," said Greenberg, noting that way back when, the store sold leather horse saddles, harnesses, and buggy whips. "How the products have changed over the time is an amazing thing."

Greenberg said that Wagner's isn't closing because of the pandemic. Even though people weren't traveling and the store closed for a bit, they made it to the other side. Greenberg said that the timing was just right. He recently left the business and the decision making up to his kids.

"The time is right. I'm about ready to retire," Greenberg said. When he's not at the store, Greenberg works on Connecticut's State Property Review Board. The board provides oversight of State real estate activities, acquisition of farm development rights, and the hiring of architects, engineers and other construction-related professionals.

"I enjoy that very much and it's kind of become my passion," Greenberg said.

Wagner's has truly been a family affair. Greenberg's wife, his son, Robert, and his grandsons have all worked in the store over the years.

Zac, Greenberg's grandson who is now in college, can remember always wanting to work at Wagner's even before he was old enough.

"I loved being here throughout middle school and high school," Zac said. "It's sad to see it go, but it's good knowing that this is what they want to do, and everyone's going to be better for it."

The interactions with customers have made all the difference to Greenberg. The personal touch and ability to learn about a product with a hands-on approach is something customers can't get on Amazon.

"One of the games I'd play with my customers is I'd take something super expensive like a leather garment bag with a price of $595. On sales days I'd put it out for $50. I wanted to see if people really recognized the value of what they were buying," Greenberg said. "We've had the best customers. There's more good people out there than bad people."

Wagner's is set to close by the end of May. Big and brightly colored "Final Sale" signs cover the exterior of the store.

Greenberg's wife, Marsha, sat next to Ed in the back store last week, and said it was sad to close the doors, but the timing made sense.

"It's been a long, great run, but now it's time to move on," she said. "It's sad but we're going into a different phase."