NORWALK — Police were called to two armed robberies of retail stores Friday evening, reported less than�a half-hour apart.

The first was reported at about 7:22 p.m. by employees of Payless Shoes, 434 Westport Ave. Employees said a man brandishing a knife entered the store, demanded money, and forced a salesman into a back room.

Afterwards, the man was seen walking away through the store’s parking lot.

Officers dispatched to the scene were told the robbery occurred about 30 minutes before it was reported.

The second robbery, reported around�7:37 p.m.,�was at the Dress Barn store at 574 Main Ave.

Employees there also said the perpetrator threatened them with a knife and forced an employee into a back room before leaving.

Based on surveillance video, a police broadcast said the robber at Dress Barn was a black male, 6 feet tall, 230 pounds, wearing blue jeans, a black hoodee, a light-colored baseball cap with a logo on it, netting over his face, and white sneakers.