New York is famous for its blistering pace of life. In a city where everyone and everything moves quickly, One Hour Framing Shop fits in perfectly. Normally, a frame shop can take several weeks to frame items, but Waseem - the manager of the store - and his team can finish nearly every item in under a day. “Only in a place like New York is our work possible. That’s the beauty of New York. That’s what makes us an iconic store,” Waseem said.
The shop first opened in 1983 and has been a staple on 40th Street ever since. In speaking with Waseem, Manhattan Sideways team member Jon learned that he has been here since the beginning. Working at a framing shop has its perks, Waseem explained. As the go-to shop for producers of New York-based movies and television shows, he hears about the latest in entertainment well before everyone else.
Almost every store on the street has changed since it first opened, but Waseem believes that One Hour Framing has been able to thrive by cultivating plenty of relationships with the businesses surrounding it in Midtown. He rattled off a list of more than a dozen large companies that utilize their services. Waseem knows all of his customers personally and has become friendly with many of them. When Jon stopped in, the president of a top investment firm, a regular customer, came by and started chatting with Waseem. It immediately became evident to Jon why people keep coming back; Waseem makes sure to remember personal details about his customers, and will always deliver what they want when they want it. As a testament to just how loyal his customers are, he revealed that many drop off gifts for him during the holiday season. “I’ve met a whole range of people. While some of them are really rotten, I’ve gotten to meet a lot of good, lovely people.”
