Only a few storefronts down from the as-yet-unopened Kira Plastinina Midtown sits an utterly gutted building which will become the flagship boutique for Fossil Accessories.

According to the Fossil website, the store at 38 West 34th Street will ideally open this summer, but as you can see the zone is still very much a hard hat area. This will be Fossil's second Manhattan store after the one at Fifth Ave and 44th Street, carrying all of their lines inspired by vintage Americana. Yep, this will not be another watch store; their very Coachesque sunglasses, handbags, jewelry and other small leather goods are quite a cushy source of income for Fossil and will totally attract tourists for a few more NY souvenirs they could have probably bought at home.
· Fossil Jumps on the Eco-Tote Bandwagon [Racked]

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Of all places, Manhattan's first Green Depot environmental living and building store will be opening on Bowery in November of this year. At 777 Bowery, in a spot formerly the Young Men's Institute, this will be the company's sixth location and its flagship, despite already having a home base across the river in Greenpoint.

Construction has just barely begun on the 3,000 square foot space, but when finished later this fall, the place is expected to receive LEED platinum or gold certification.

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Opening like, extremely soon at 150 Spring Street will be the Swedish sneakermaker Tretorn, occupying a spot just across the street from its antithesis: Crocs. This will be Tretorn's first Manhattan store, copying the interior design that they cooked up last year for their Georgetown location: a collection of stacked wooden boxes based on the geometry of the Swedish flag, natch. A peek inside revealed shirts already out on the racks, lightweight sweaters neatly stacked on those boxes, and the welcome mat rolled out.
This is a block to watch, with Comptoir des Cotonniers and Crocs across the street and something interesting happening right next door, as the interior contracting firm Monti di Rovello (the people who brough us Prada Soho) complete another slick retail build-out.

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This is the summer for humongous construction advertising; we're seeing Times Square-appropriate splashes in front of the new Topshop, 7 For All Mankind...and JC Penney? That's right: Manhattan Mall in Herald Square is due to get Manhattan's first JC Penney in summer 2009, but right now is just getting their name out there. Keep in mind that the flagship Macy's is on the same block, and these new huge ads from JC Penney (strikingly Macy's red) bookending the site make marketing sense. Until the arrival of Worthington separates and the American Living RL line, we can only bemoan the loss of the city's single Arby's and hope that JC Penney won't force their catalogs down our mail slots.
· JC Penney Confirmed for Manhattan Mall's Lower Levels [The Shophound]
· Goodbyes [Racked]

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In the shadow of the Empire State Building, teenage Russian clothing designer Kira Plastinina is readying the second of her New York stores for a summer opening. If her first store on Broadway in Soho hasn't fully exposed her to midwestern teen tourists, then this one at 22 West 34th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is sure to do the trick. Sitting on the same block as stores like H&M, Bakers and American Eagle Outfitters, Kira may be more at home here next to Sbarro's than she is on Broadway, that is until Hollister opens next door.
· Kira Craze Continues [Racked]
· Now Open: Lollipops and Lycra at Kira Plastinina [Racked]
· Roll Out the Welcome Mat [Racked]

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[Photo via Flickr/controgirlcrew]

Just as you begin to think Soho is turning Japanese, the French decide to step in and have their way with retail real estate. Nipping at the heels of Eryne brinié, the "French Urban Chic Boutique" due to Broadway and Spring in August, is another Gallic import: Comptoir des Cotonniers, which roughly translates to something like "overpriced cotton basics." But oops - our bad! It's actually another Japanese store, which together with Uniqlo forms the Fast Retailing leviathan, whose "aim is to create a dynasty to rival H&M." Despite Comptoir's already heavy presence in Europe and Asia (over 333 total locations), the Soho shop will be the chain's first US store, opening in September at 155 Spring Street next to Theory and around the corner from Eryn. Staying true to trend, Soho will only be the beginning for Comptoir, as they plan for at least two more New York locations where customers need only pronounce the name correctly to feel all Euro-chic.
· Fashion Scoops: Paris Meets Soho [WWD, subscription req]
· Chain Reaction: Comptoir des Cotonniers [UK Times]
· Storecasting: Eryn Brinié to be Soho's New Ingenue [Racked]

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Well, it's official: L'Uomo at 363 Bleecker is closed, with even the sign cut out of the awning. Despite the store's 25+ years at the spot (before the SNL short Lazy Sunday brought nearby Magnolia Bakery renewed fame!), L'Uomo lost its lease to make way for the block's third Ralph Lauren. Still no sign of RL progress, but the fact that they're paying $50,000 more per month than L'Uomo did should get them moving real soon.

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Once we saw this untouched interior of Alexis Bittar's new West Village space at 353 Bleecker Street, we knew the original projected May opening would be shoved back greatly, but for how long? A call to Bittar's current Soho shop at 465 Broome Street gave July as the new goal for Bleecker. Don't let the picture above fool you; Alexis has big plans for his new space, saying: "I want my customer to feel something special upon entering my stores - like they are stepping back in time, catching a glimpse into an old 1930’s bedroom." In fact, the Bleecker store will be in direct homage to the style of North by Northwest, but with no work permits up which we could see, we wonder if this transformation can really happen in one month.
· Alexis Bittar: Go West, Young Man! [Fashion Informer]
· Preview: Bittar's Little Slice of Bleecker [Racked]
· Storecasting: West Village Getting a Little Bittar [Racked]

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Later this summer, expect Kira Plastinina to gain a friend on Broadway: Eryn brinié, a 22-year-old "living a care-free life in New York City" will open her flagship store in August at 501 Broadway between Spring and Broome streets. Already with over 30 stores in Korea and China, Eryn is eyeing to expand to other continents, and Topshop rumors abound. Judging from the STUDIOS architecture and natural elements in the space, this shop will be a cool respite from the overstimulation of Broadway.

Looking at the clothing, which "speaks to a woman who is warm-hearted and sensible, but also possesses a slight artistic flair," we can't help but think of Gossip Girl's Serena. The pricing is a bit more on Jenny's level, ranging from $50-$150 and aimed for the older sisters of Kira Plastinina's devotees. A word on Eryn brinié from our man in Seoul: "Take two cups of Charlotte Ronson, a tablespoon of Vera Wang and a small pinch of Miu Miu." Sounds like yummy low-fat cream cheese.
· Eryn brinié [Official Site]
· Some PoMo Up Top of Soho's 501 Broadway [Curbed]
· Now Open: Lollipops and Lycra at Kira Plastinina [Racked]

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[Vespa Greenpoint via TrespassersWill]

Guess what, young creatives! Some companies are beginning to realize that you don't live in Soho anymore, despite what the Frommer's guidebook tells them. This summer, Vespa will open new exclusive dealerships in both Greenpoint and Jersey City to supplement their existing showrooms in Fort Greene and Soho. The new Greenpoint Vespa spot at 33 Nassau Avenue and Dobbin St will be 5,000 square feet of Quadrophenia ecstasy, not to mention that it'll be underneath the new Triple Five Soul headquarters.

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