Like we said yesterday, the phone companies are out to get you, but this isn't actually anything new. What is news, however, is that the thinly sliced retail spot sitting vacant at 532 Broadway at Spring has finally found a new tenant: AT&T. Slated to open at the beginning of July, we're betting AT&T gave in to the Soho high rent because of some research telling them that Soho is nearly saturated with iphones in need of wireless plan support.
Those crazy kids at J.Crew really pulled it off. Just moments ago, the very first NYC Madewell store opened, and it was immediately mobbed. The airy bi-level space is stuffed full of artfully disheveled womenswear. It's clear that there's an emphasis on scarves—we spotted what must have been at least 30 types, from plaids (around $50 to $60) to brightly-colored solids ($20), knotted and hung throughout the space and draped upon every fresh-faced salesclerk. We also saw a lot of lightweight sweaters, deliberately rumpled silk dresses, washed leather jackets, eyelet tops, all sorts of denim (capris, shorts, high-waisted styles, skinnies), suede flat boots and pebbled leather bags. Prices were gentler than those at J.Crew—most items were marked under $200, with leather jackets, boots and bags running a bit more. The Racked team was able to get off a few snaps before being told (nicely but firmly) that photos weren't allowed. So if you can't head down to the store today, enjoy a mini-tour via our gallery.
· DelayWatch: Madewell "Can't Wait to See You" Tm Open! [Racked]
· First Look: Inside Madewell's Soho Flagship [Racked]
· Progress Report: The Opening of Madewell's Permanent Store Draws Nigh [Racked]
As the above signage so cutely points out, Madewell—object of our affection, fascinating flagellum under our microscope—will not be opening its New York flagship at 486 Broadway and Broome to the public today as was planned. There's no reason given for the day-long delay, but an article in today's WWD gives clues as to why the place might not be ready to go. Seems as if J.Crew's head honcho Mickey Drexler wasn't ready to sign off on the interior of the place after a walk-through on Friday:
"Can we not bury the handbags?" Drexler asks, noticing they're confined to a couple of shelves and blocked by a fashion form. Then he examines the 20-foot-long denim bar. It's too high, but he likes the scope of it. On the staircase landing, there's a wall of mirrors that has to go. His biggest concern is upstairs, past the DJ booth, in an open room just beyond the "gallery" of graphic Ts and wall of crumpled scarves. "It's like you're walking into the main salon of a home and want to be blown away. But where's the exclamation point?" The merchandising is just too regimented—a short and a top, a short and a top, etc. He even pulls out a pair of shorts with a lattice pattern and asks, "Does anybody like this?"
Before the weekend begins, here's a quick rundown of the top ten Racked stories of the past five days.
1) In Midtown: Luxury brand Gucci opened a new flagship, then adopted the I [Heart] NY slogan for their own line of limited-edition merchandise, without clearing the usage with the city. Ooops.
2) In Jack Heights: Jackson Heights finallygot a Starbucks to call its own.
3) In Park Slope: Boutique Oak ditched the clothing at their President Street outpost for a ton of shoes.
Soho shoppers, be prepared to say goodbye to your precious Madewell pop-up store. J. Crew PR informs us that the temporary shop will close for good on Sunday, January 27th—less than two weeks from now! Thankfully, work on the company's much-delayed permanent store at 486 Broadway is almost finished, so you'll only have to endure one cold, dark, Madewell-less month. The retail shakeup means one thing: sales. Beginning tomorrow, they're slashing prices on already-discounted merchandise another 25%. Can Drexler and Co. make a late February opening happen? Stay tuned...
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.
It's all happening: Madwell's pop-up store at 532 Broadway in Soho has opened to shoppers a day early. We have to hand it to Mickey Drexler for pulling this off, and early no less. There's a full denim wall, filled with the brand's skinny and bootleg styles in a variety of washes, tables full of striped henleys and chunky knit sweaters, and racks hung with babydoll dresses. Of particular interest is the footwear, especially the riding boots, which are, as noted by The Shophound, "gently priced." The booties in the window run about $225, fyi.
J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler can't be happy about the construction and red tape that has delayed the opening of the company's first Manhattan Madewell location. Instead of just watching the holidays go by Madewell-less, he decided to take action and is opening a temporary pop up store at 532 Broadway this Wednesday, November 21st, two blocks north of their permanent store (pictured) at 486 Broadway. According to WWD, the pop up will offer "a preview of the collection and several of the more popular-selling items, such as garment-dyed jeans, priced $110; leather "heritage" boots, priced $288; suede flat boots, $268; graphic Ts, from $25 to $35, and scarves, from $38 to $52." The temporary location will stay open till the permanent store is ready for business, which might not be until late January or even February.
· Madewell in Manhattan for Holiday [WWD, subscription req]
· Madewell To Debut In Late November [Racked]
· Fall Shopping Preview: Muji, CB2, Madewell Make The List [Racked]
· Madewell's Soho Space Slated For November Reveal [Racked]
Madewell, J. Crew's boho spinoff, is slowly readying its first Manhattan location for fall shoppers. The store going in at 486 Broadway and Broome Street does not look like it will be ready to open within the next few months, but we've received word from the brand's PR reps that it will indeed debut before the end of November. Here, the shop's exterior, ahead, a look at the interior.
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J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler can't be happy about the construction and red tape that has delayed the opening of the company's first Manhattan 
