It’s been a big, entertaining summer already for retail, with major corporations opening interactive flagship stores. Now is the time to be a child again!
All About Apparel
Ryland Life Equipment relocated from 26 Madison St. to 155 Main St. in Sag Harbor, New York, announced Manhattan Skyline Management Corp. The luxury menswear brand will occupy 2,159 square feet across the ground floor and lower level of the property. John Elliot, a Los Angeles, California-based streetwear brand, will make its New York retail debut at 270 Lafayette Street, reported Commercial Observer.
Find Your Bargains
Target comes to Long Island City, signing for 31,000 square feet at One Court Square.
It’s About Time
Vacheron Constantin, the 265-year-old luxury Swiss watchmaker, opened its North American Flagship at 28 East 57th St., with more than 4,500 square feet on two floors. Amenities include a blue straw marquetry wall with Maltese cross motif, an open discovery table that displays crafts and techniques among an assortment of métiers d’art timepieces and a large screen offering an immersive digital tour through the history of Vacheron Constantin. The second floor opens to an expansive watchmaking bench intended to encourage interaction with an in-house watchmaker as well as a custom strap station presenting both engraving and embossing customization options. A VIP Lounge encourages lingering, and a family-friendly bar upstairs is equipped with games and refreshments.
Wining and Dining
Frrrozen Hot Chocolate returns! Just in time for the next heat wave, Serendipity3 reopened its doors in July after a year of renovations at its flagship location at 225 East 60th St. The revamped space celebrates the restaurant’s classic roots but adds a modern and colorful overhaul with timeless elements including Tiffany lamps and antique clocks. Stonehenge NYC signed two new restaurants in its luxury West Village building, 10 Downing. Kyle Hotchkiss Carone, who leads the group behind American Bar, will open a seafood-centric concept in early fall. John McDonald and Chef Ryan Schmidtberger opened Hancock St. in McDonald’s former El Toro Blanco space. Brooklynites looking for smoothies can stop by Baya Bar’s 12th New York shop at 233 Eighteenth in Greenwood Heights.
It may have taken them 85 years (but who’s counting), but Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys is expanding beyond the Lower East Side, signing for its second-ever location at 312 11th Ave. Restaurateur Rudi Hung will open an upscale Chinese dining spot at 66 South Second St. in Williamsburg. Lilac, a rustic Italian dining concept, will open at 200 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Wolkonsky Bakery & Café will bring Parisian-style cuisine to 8 West 40th St.
Canadian vegan fast-foot chain Globally Local Technologies Inc. has engaged real estate firm Retail by Mona to identify a location for its Manhattan (and U.S.) flagship restaurant, to be branded as Odd Burger. Toronto, Canada-based vegan eatery Planta Queen has opened at 15 West 27th St. New Haven, Connecticut’s Sally’s Apizza is opening the first of its new locations in Stamford, Connecticut this summer. Look for a new Latin restaurant and nightclub from the team behind La Casa del Mofongo at 29 West 36th St. by year- end. Kansas-born Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will make its tri-state debut at Legacy Square in Linden, New Jersey. A 30,000-square-foot DeCicco & Sons market has been approved for construction at Edge- on-Hudson in Sleepy Hollow, New York. Plans call for a 2022 opening.
Get Your Gadgets
Google opened its first-ever retail store at its office campus in Chelsea, featuring all of its devices and services in a site that is LEED Platinum-certified.
That’s Entertainment
In June, The Lego Group opened its experiential retail prototype on Fifth Avenue at Rockefeller Center. The 7,175-square-foot, two-story store is the first Lego flagship to feature the new retail format, elements of which will be introduced to more than 100 stores worldwide in the coming year. Look for supersized recreations of local landmark; a Brick Lab, which immerses shoppers in a virtual world; an interactive Tree of Discovery made from 880,000 Lego elements and a storytelling table for adults that shows early product designs and allows fans to virtually “meet” Lego designers.
Harry Potter fans from across the world were welcomed into Harry Potter New York as the flagship store opened its doors to the public. The store boasts 15 themed areas and thousands of products, including Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs and soft toys. Customers could step into Hagrid’s boots to see how they measure up and duel other customers at the store’s interactive wand table.
Following seven successful years in Williamsburg with an inaugural location on North Ninth Street, vinyl record Rough Trade NYC opened its first Manhattan store, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
To Your Health
Boxing Studio Rumble will open at 285 LafayetteStreet.
Debra Hazel
Debra Hazel Communications New York, NY
(201) 618-5247
