The Army Navy store that grew up in New York

Our story

Seventy-five years on the same trade

Work clothes, boots, surplus and gear, sold by the same family since 1951: first across a counter in Queens, then from stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and since 1997 from the web. Today the business is online only, with one outlet store, Brooklyn Army Navy. Click a picture to see it large.

1. 1930s

   An army navy store is already trading at Roosevelt Avenue and Main Street in Flushing, Queens, the corner where this story starts.

   

2. 1951

   Main Mens Wear opens on that corner, selling work clothing and military surplus to the neighbourhood, and comes to be known as Main Army & Navy.

   

3. 1983

   Our family buys the store from its original owner and opens it as Galaxy Army & Navy.

   

4. 1985

   Mash Army & Navy opens in Manhattan, started by the owner together with his brother. The two later go their own ways, each keeping his own store.

   

5. 1996

   The domain name is registered. Father wanted "Galaxy Army and Navy"; his son, then in the sixth grade, preferred the shorter name. The shorter name won.

6. 1997

   GalaxyArmyNavy.com opens, one of the first army navy stores online, carrying tactical clothing, camouflage uniforms, surplus, workwear, boots and outdoor gear.

7. 2000

   The Manhattan stores open, one of them the company's world headquarters.

   

   

8. 2010

   Brooklyn Army Navy opens in Bensonhurst as a small outlet store.

   

9. 2016

   Brooklyn Army Navy moves to a larger outlet store, with a wholesale showroom and the customer service center for online orders.

   

10. 2025

    The last Manhattan store closes after more than 43 years under the same owner. The business carries on online, with one outlet store in Brooklyn: Brooklyn Army Navy.

11. 2026

    Galaxy Army Navy moves to ArmyNavyStore.com. The new, advanced site offers retail and wholesale purchase at ANS - ArmyNavyStore™. Same goods, same people, one family.