SOHO—Toy store for adults Kidrobot is opening a pop-up shop. According to Fashion Geek, the temporary boutique at 70 Greene Street (called the Kidrobot Pirate Store) will be unveiled this Friday with a massive sample sale. [Fashion Geek]

NATIONAL—Designer Pierre Hardy's much-anticipated shoe line for Gap will be available in 75 stores across the country and online beginning March 6th. The LA Times reports that the "collection of three-inch wood wedges and pointy metallic flats" will retail from $78 to $98. [LA Times]

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Really Cool Foods looking really empty

UPPER EAST SIDE—A Really Cool Foods PR rep emails us to clarify a few things about the shuttering of the company's Third Ave store: "Caught wind of the tip you picked up about Really Cool Foods closing its store on the Upper East Side. For your readers, I just wanted to let you know that Really Cool Foods can be found in an increasing number of stores. In NYC alone, they’re sold at every Whole Foods Market. The decision to shut down the UES location was so that the brand could focus on making its products available in more grocery stores not only in New York but around the country." [RackedWire]

WEST VILLAGE—Some very interesting news about reclusive avant-garde Belgian designer Martin Margiela's West Village shop, from an in-the-know source: "Apparently the economy isn't hurting high-end retailers like Martin Margiela, because the mysterious brand is expanding...but they didn't go very far. They are taking over the space next door (I think it is 801 Greenwich) that was formerly occupied by interior store Stephen Sclaroff, but has been empty for the past year since Sclaroff moved to Tribeca. The store is already under renovation, though I am not sure if they are breaking thru and keeping the original store, of just moving." [RackedWire Inbox]

WVILL/BOCOCA/THE SLOPE—A Racked reader sends an update on chic luggage boutique Flight 001's sale: "Sales Associate at the Flight 001 on Greenwich Ave told me tomorrow they're taking the sale an extra 50% the sale price. It's at 30% extra now. Supposed to include the two stores in Brooklyn too." [RackedWire Inbox]

SOHO—This is strange: The Hickey boutique at 96 Grand Street is still shuttered due to the 'ceiling malfunctions' that closed the store more than a month ago. From the outfits of the workers hanging out in the doorway earlier today, the damage would seem extensive. [RackedWire]

SOHO—Muji sale! Muji sale! Writes a reader: "I don't think this was mentioned, but the Muji on SOHO is having a sale with selected items 50% off and 70% off. The clothing selection is pretty limited though. There are flats for both 50% and 70% off. The 70% off mainly goes to apparel, shoes, bags, and some cushion covers. Kitchenware is 50% off. I think it's worth a look, if anyone is a Muji fan." [RackedWire Inbox]

LOWER EAST SIDE—Some good news for sneakerheads, from a rock-solid neighborhood informant: "Alife is opening their 3rd store on rivington in the next couple of months. All of them will be on the same block between Clinton and suffolk." Okay, breathe. Does anyone know where on Rivington? [RackedWire Inbox]
UPDATE: Alife is denying the rumor. Their official word: "It's not true."

BOWERY—This is a sentence we never thought we'd write: Rumor has it that naked ping pong tourneys are coming to the Bowery. Repeat, naked ping pong tourneys are coming to the Bowery. And though the nakedness is more figurative than literal, the hot ping pong competition is real. A Racked tipster emails that the trio behind the the Tribeca ping pong club is "opening up a permanent space on Bowery supposedly on April 1st." If there was any shadow of a doubt that the Bowery had officially sped past "gritty" before this, well, there's none now. [RackedWire Inbox]

[ABC Home & Planet; click to expand]

UNION SQUARE—ABC Carpet & Home is really feeling the whole eco-friendly movement that's been so popular of late. The furniture and housewares store has decided to turn their third floor space into a destination for sustainable and low-impact products; the result is ABC Home & Planet. The new shopping area (pictured above) is stocked with organic mattresses and bedding, tables made from reclaimed wood, air purifiers, and biodynamic bath and body products. [RackedWire]

SOHO—Rumor has it that clothing chain Who.A.U., described ominously by many as the Korean Abercrombie & Fitch, has found a New York space to sink it's faux-Cali washed-cotton claws into in Soho. The exact location is unknown at present, but we think they're going to want to nestle up real close to the Hollister store set to open sometime in the near future on Broadway. [RackedWire Inbox]

CHELSEA—We've got an update on the sad state of Chelsea's Barnes & Noble. Per a tipster: "The Barnes & Noble on Sixth Ave and 21st Street is officially closing March 31st (boo hoo!). The cashier I talked to said the lease was up and the landlord wanted a huge increase.They offered severance to those who didn't want to relocate. She didn't know what was coming in the space next." Racked readers have been leaving their suggestions on the soon-to-be-vacated space, but does anyone really know what's going to rise in its place? [Racked Inbox]

WEST VILLAGE—Great news! An informant sends word that: "Carpeting has been put in at the D'AGs Grocery Store on Bethune and Greenwich Streets! How much do you think they are going to raise the prices now?!" Good question. We also wonder how this affects traction while pushing one's shopping cart full of overpriced produce. [Racked Inbox]

NOLITA—How about we round out this edition of 'Wire with a good old reader rant? From the inbox: "I just want to send a notice to readers that SoHo Cleaners at the corner of Houston and Bowery is the worst. I sent a one-of-a-kind beaded dress to be dry-cleaned there. They had cleaned it several times before, so I didn't think twice about handing it over. After picking it up, I discovered that the dress was melted and burned. They totally overheated during the cleaning process and just melted all the beading, which bled all over the dress. I contacted them and went back there to discuss the matter numerous times, but a manager was never present. I waited three weeks and got no call from the manager. Ultimately, they refused to refund the cleaning process and said they forfeit responsibility when cleaning delicate dresses." One word: Avoid. [Racked Inbox]

ONLINE—Gap's updated their website with new spring styles from their European collection. For those unfamiliar with the Euro version of the khaki-happy retailer, this is noteworthy because like McDonald's, the Gaps across the pond differ a bit from the stores stateside. The clothes are a touch more stylish (and a bit more expensive) and are currently only available in the US online. [Gap]

PARK SLOPE—If you don't have a date for Valentine's Day, how does getting sloshed at the Brooklyn Industries store on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope sound? Painful? Well, they're holding a free wine tasting from 7 to 9pm, so at least it's free. [Racked Inbox]

GREENWICH VILLAGE—A sweets enterprise intriguingly named "Insomnia Cookies" is headed for 8th Street between MacDougal and Sixth Ave. According to Crain's, the company has built its business on a delivery service that caters to (stoned?) college students; this will be the first brick-and-mortar retail location. The tiny 300-square-foot store will serve freshly-baked cookies and milk, natch. [Crain's]

COBBLE HILL—The plan to turn the first floor of the jail at Atlantic Ave and Smith Street into retail has been resurrected. The city has saucily included a Trader Joe's in the renderings, even though everyone knows that the TJ's is going in a block from there. Also, the commissioners want to double the size of the house of detention. What a bunch of crazy dreamers. [Curbed]

[Femia, 02/12/2008]

WEST VILLAGE—Courtesy of roving Racked photog Will Femia, here's a look at currently-plywooded flower market and home décor store Grove New York going in on Hudson Street near Jane Street. The place was originally slated to open in December, but as you can see, they've got a ways to go. [Racked Inbox]

MIDTOWN EAST—Also via Femia, we hear that the deal that lingerie and sex shop Myla had with the Plaza Hotel fell through. No word on what will replace the retailer, as he relates that "the doorman at the Plaza could only afford a smirk at my questions about shops in the hotel. From the 58th street side there are a few visible construction projects that could conceivably be for retail." [Racked Staff]

MIDTOWN EAST—The special Gap Mulberry bags are officially here. A tipster emails: "Mulberry for GAP (red) available now at GAP 5th ave store! I walked by Gap 5th ave flagship store today and they have the bags on both colors in the small shop next to the big flagship. The price is $175 in red and also in grey. The pop up shop looks tricky because they put a giant vinyl of the bag on the glass doors and the rest of the facade is frosted so it looks like it's closed for a private event but it's open to public. I'm so surprised Gap Inc. and bloggers didn't mention about this. Hopefully this will be a sign of having more Gap European collection available in the US." [RackedWire Inbox]

SOHO—A Racked reader sends a telegram-like note about a Bed Bath & Beyond rumored to be slated for Soho: "Say it ain't so. Bed Bath and Beyond moving onto Lafayette between Prince and Houston. On the west side of the street. Almost whole block. Displacing existing stores. Is this true. Help stop this please." Hmmm—what stores are located on that side of the block? There's clothing chainlet Brooklyn Industries, newly-arrived shoe store Irregular Choice, skate shop WeSC and streetwear destination Supreme. Which will fall? That's unknown at this point, but we'd prefer any of them over another huge BB&B. Commence wailing now. [RackedWire Inbox]

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