Storecasting: Tommy Hilfiger Muscling Onto Fifth
[Photo credit]
Tommy Hilfiger, or the private equity group that owns Tommy Hilfiger, rather, will not stop tormenting New Yorkers. First, they see fit to pollute Bleecker Street with a strange new concept store selling pricey womenswear; then they drop a truly tragic denim store onto Broadway in Soho, and now, they're taking Fifth Avenue. WWD reports that Hilfiger & Co. will be opening a four-floor, 22,000-square-foot flagship at 681 Fifth Avenue in November of this year. More color:
The flagship will be the first Tommy Hilfiger store worldwide to carry every product category, including the runway collection, men's wear, women's wear, children's wear, tailored, footwear, accessories and the complete Hilfiger Denim collection...The lower level will be devoted to denim in a setting that will replicate the Denim Concept store on Broadway in SoHo. Men's wear will be on the ground floor, and will include everything from casual to tailored...A 2,500-square-foot mezzanine will be devoted to accessories, including belts, handbags and shoes. Women's wear will occupy the third floor and children's and sport will be on the fourth level.
Given the tourist traffic on the stretch, it's (sadly) bound to be a huge hit.
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Tommy Hilfiger to Open Fifth Avenue Flagship in November [WWD, subscription req]
Racked Recap: The Year In...Turbulent Retail Stretches
It's been a big year for New York City retail (and not just because Racked was born in March). This week, we'll relive the glorious highlights and gruesome lowlights. We've recapped the year's most ridiculous lines, saddest goodbyes, most menacing retail presences and the most notable Street Scenes. Now, we're tackling the year's most turbulent retail stretches.
Opening day at the Apple Store on 14th Street and Ninth Avenue
While stores come and go all over this town, this year there were a few neighborhoods that really evolved (or devolved, depending on your perspective). The following four ‘hoods were hotbeds of retail activity…
4) 14th Street in MePa: A ginormous new Apple Store had us christen the entire neighborhood the "iPacking District," but it wasn't the only arrival MePa weathered this year. Diane von Furstenberg's spectacular flagship opened in May, bringing chic wrap dresses to 14th and Washington. In September, word leaked that Hugo Boss would be taking space on 14th right next door to Apple (the store is still under construction). Meanwhile, we awaited new flagships for Poleci and Ports nearby. Though the 'hood welcomed many newcomers this year, it also lost delicious pastry purveyor Little Pie Company and housewares shop Bodum, which may or may not be relocating to Soho.
Numbers three, two and one, this way. >>
Truly Tragic: The Hilfiger Denim Store in Soho
The Hilfiger Denim store that's just opened in Soho at 500 Broadway between Broome and Spring Sts (formerly home to Mexx) sounds completely awful. WWD describes it thusly:
The space at 500 Broadway grooves to a disco beat, a theme chosen because the denim customer is "more youthful, edgier and a little hipper," [U.S. Brand director Michael] Arts said. Disco balls dangle from the ceiling, and the floors, columns and ceiling are painted black. There are black leather rugs and the 300-square-foot cash wrap is designed to look like a bar, covered in black leather and with acrylic bar stools. All that's missing are velvet ropes outside.
Okay, so let's get this straight. Tommy Hilfiger has just opened a fancy schmantzy, opulent
women's store on Bleecker Street in the West Village—and now he's gone and done a 180 and opened a tacky denim hub on Broadway? He's certainly trying to juggle a lot of balls here. According to the brand's chief executive officer, Hilfiger's going full steam ahead with this, as he plans on opening more '...stores exclusively offering Hilfiger Denim, stores offering only sportswear and...stores offering only women's wear and children's wear.' Soon, there will be a Hilfiger store for every type of customer! What a future.
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Hilfiger Denim Paves Road to Retail [WWD, subscription req]
Photo of a Hilfiger Denim store in Amsterdam via Flickr/thaisie
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