UPPER EAST SIDE — A high-end Madison Avenue jewelry store became the scene of a melee Wednesday afternoon, when a man attacked a guard who refused to let him in, witnesses and authorities said.
The guard at at de Grisogono, at 824 Madison Ave., which sells watches and other jewels, was taken to New York Hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the 2:30 p.m. incident, according to the FDNY.
Kate Hemphill, an assistant manager who spoke to witnesses, said that an unfamiliar man rang the bell, trying to get into the store.
The security guard opened the door slightly, as per procedure, and decided not to let him in, Hemphill said.
But the man became angry, punched the guard, and forced his way into the store, demanding catalogues, businesscards, and to view jewelry, she added.
Frightened employees then fled the showroom, which was empty, and called police. Two locked themselves in the bathroom.
Hesham Ishmael, 34, a halal vendor on the corner of 69th Street, said he and another Madison Avenue security guard were smoking cigarettes a few steps away when they the scuffle.
Then they rushed inside and helped the guard restrain the man until police arrived, Ishmael and Hemphill said. Nothing was stolen.
"I'm very shocked because we consider Madison Avenue a very safe and secure area," she said. "It's very upsetting because this is a very rare occurrence."
Cops did not immediately have any information about the incident.