Henry Westpfal

Westphal is a mainstay of New York's rapidly disappearing garment industry. I'm so grateful that they're still here: as more and more companies send their manufacturing overseas, it's a rarity to find a local resource to buy leather working supplies, hardware like snaps and grommets and get your scissors sharpened. I have seen and heard the bad reviews, but have noticed that the last few year they've really gone a long way to reinvent themselves, and dig the new 'made in nyc' shop they have going on in front.

I have been bringing my knives here for years. Consistently excellent work, polite and friendly service. This is a can’t-do-without business in NYC.

I dropped off two extremely dull Henkel knives. Received super sharp, cut through paper in one swift stroke. Service was quick and professional. Team is friendly and informative. Price fair and reasonable. I will continue to use their services and recommend this place.

**EDIT** I just got my shears back from another sharpener that did an incredible job. And in my charges from them was "REPAIR DAMAGE FROM PREVIOUS SHARPENER." Really?!? This is evident proof how bad of a job Henry Westphal did on my shears! Dispicable. I wish I could post the photo proof. Extremely disappointed in this sharpening company. I'm located on Long Island, and chose to use them to sharpen my dog grooming shears based on how close they were, and a collection of positive reviews. My initial contact to them to a week for any response, and that should've been my first sign. Upon speaking to them, I send them a few sets of shears, being very thorough in explaining I need them back -- FAST. They say no worries, typical turn around time is 2-3 days. Fast forward 2 weeks later, and I still don't have my shears back! I've now had to purchase a back up set to use as I waited to get mine returned. Upon calling and questioning, I'm told they will be sent out that day. They were sent 2 days later. Finally I get them back after nearly 3 weeks, and find them to be terrible. Absolutely horrible. They were tightened, but sharpened? No way. They were folding over hair-- not even cutting it! And these were only being used on freshly washed and dried dogs. On top of terribly done or not done at all shears, they sent back my thinning shears telling me they were unable to sharpen them. What sharpener can't sharpen thinning shears? I called and spoke about my distaste, and was told to send them back to be done again. Absolutely not will I waste my time with this company again. I called and left a message regarding reimbursement of the $88 I had spent on my shears that were obviously not even done, and have yet to get a response back from the company. Really poor customer service, and a negative impact to local dog groomers in New York. If I could give no stars, I would have.

Great knife sharpeners. Completely restored my western and Japanese knives to a razor sharp edge. Good service and fair prices.

What a wonderful group of people and what a great job they do!!! I have now taken nine straight razors, several scissors including my Grandmother's very old scissors which are near and dear to me, and they have done just magnificent work with them. There is no place else to go, and no one else to trust with your valuable instruments, be they razors, scissors of knives. Dr. JL

Horrible customer service and the lady who worked there made me feel horrible. Walked in, waited almost 5 minutes quietly while the older lady helped 2 women. She looked at me, not once said hello or she would be with me. At almost 5 minutes she came around the counter, looked me up and down, said "What do you want?" Ok.... I explained I needed tweezers sharpened and she replies "Well you're not going to get them sharpened today, you're going to have to wait a week. And I'll tell you you're taking a gamble because they will never be the same so don't get mad if they come back messed up." Needless to say I grabbed my 4 tweezers and left. I understand you may not have the best job, but it doesn't hurt to be kind. This is why mom and pop shops are dying, because no one wants to deal with bitter mean people.

CHEFS BEWARE!!! for average tools it's fine. I'd still bring a tweezer but NO KNIVES EVER !!! I had always taken my scissors or tweezers here. I'm a hairstylist and my tools seemed better than when I left them. THIS TIME, my fiancé let me take his knives REGRET He's a chef. CHEFS are special people. They're particular about they're workspace. As they should be. He requests a 70/30 blade on all. I get them back and they're sharpened at 100!! COMPLETELY WRONG AND UNUSABLE. FAIL!!! Even I couldn't use them the blade would glide at an extreme angle towards me. I take them immediately to my fiancé's preference KORIN in TriBeCa. AMAZING!!! What a difference!! They literally cut like butter. Effortlessly!! I am a permanent client at KORIN and recommend them for quality and service. They seem like they love their craft and their products at KORIN!! a last note, I tried contacting Westpfal's a few times to fix the blades - customer service is non existent - disappointing.

Henry Westpfal Closed All of December 2022.

Amazingly knowledgeable staff. A wealth of leather working and handbag making supplies