Hazel's House of Shoes

Hazel's House of Shoes in Bayside is a shoe lover's hidden gem that carries a large selection of the latest brand-name women's shoes you'll find in department stores, but with significant discounts. It's a place to check what's in stock and in fashion, and though you might not always leave with a new pair of shoes, Hazel's is always worth the stop.

Just south of 35th Avenue on Bell Boulevard, nestled between a Chinese deli and a realtor's office is a two-story yellow shingled house with an AstroTurf-covered front porch and a sign that reads "Hazel's House of Shoes."

Hazel's shoe paradise has open shelving units stacked with boxes upon boxes of shoes, allowing you to check for your size with little more than a quick glance. If you prefer, Hazel's teems with saleswomen who are pleasant and chatty but never pushy.

The impressive range of special occasion and dyeable shoes at the front of the store should be any bridal party member's first consideration. Hazel sold me a pair of Kenneth Cole wedding shoes for $55, the same ones selling in the department store for $125.

I've also found boots for $80 that retailed elsewhere for $130. But unlike a typical discount shoe store, Hazel stocks this year's fashions, not last year's remnants. If you need a specific style, she might be able to special-order it for you.

If the everyday prices aren't enough of an incentive, drop in during one of Hazel's seasonal clearance events, for deals and discounts.

Hazel's Frequent Buyers Club rewards shoe lovers with a free pair of shoes (value up to $50) when you buy 10 pairs of shoes.

Hazel's also carries a decent selection of bags, from everyday work-appropriate totes to sparkly evening clutches. Hazel knows her bags, Louis Vuitton and more, but shoes are her thing.