NYC BEST BETS: TOP 10 NEW STORES

The past year saw the opening of dozens of exciting new stores in Manhattan. Here’s my annual list of faves:

• Barneys: In a spectacular homecoming, the upscale retailer opened a stunning flagship downtown on the same block the company was founded in 1923. The multi-level, 55,000-sq.-ft. store combines the ultimate in modern luxe with the latest technology, from beacons to a store clienteling app to mobile checkouts. (101 Seventh Ave.)

• Canada Goose: The high-flying, 60-year-old Canadian outerwear brand’s first U.S. store is designed to reflect the company’s roots and Arctic heritage, complete with a 3,840-pound, glacier-styled marble cash-wrap, carved from a single piece of rock. (101 Wooster St.)

• Coach: The brand caps off its 75th anniversary celebration with a 20,000-sq.-ft. flagship that combines its classic tony look with unexpected pop culture touches, including a 12-ft. dinosaur made entirely from Coach handbags and hardware. The customization options are plentiful and go way beyond the standard basic initials. (685 Fifth Ave.)

• Lululemon Lab: Part design workshop and part retail store, Lululemon Lab offers limited-edition goods that are made in the on-site design studio. Shoppers are free to chat up the designers and pattern-makers. (50 Bond St.)

• Nike: The athletic giant brings its game to new heights with a five-level, 55,000-sq.-ft. retail showplace. Shoppers can do anything from taking a virtual run in Central Park to shooting basketballs surrounded — virtually — by the sights of the city’s iconic basketball courts. (529 Broadway)

• NYX Professional Makeup: NYX stores are often described as playgrounds for beauty junkies and its Big Apple flagship is certainly all that. The fast-growing makeup brand combines digital technology with a hands-on educational environment that includes one-on-one lessons. (41 Union Square West)

• Pirch: The upscale kitchen, bath and outdoor appliance retailer invites customers to test drive all the merchandise — even the showerheads — in its largest location to date. The store boasts some 30 interactive home vignettes and two live kitchen demos. (200 Lafayette St.)

• Samsung 837: A flagship experience that is meant to underscore how the brand’s services and products — from mobile devices to home appliances — can make life better. The state-of-the-art space is packed with eye-popping features, including an immersive virtual reality experience. (837 Washington St.)

• Sonos: The maker of “smart” sound systems invites visitors to have their own private listening party at its first-ever retail store. The space allows customers to listen to music — and experience Sonos products — the way they would at home. Six small, house-shaped listening rooms form a row on the main floor. (101 Greene St.)

• Westfield World Trade Center: No visit to New York would be complete without a stop at its newest shopping mecca. The architecturally stunning structure is home to a diverse retail line up of some 100 fashion, beauty, lifestyle and tech brands — and a downtown version of Eataly.

Marianne Wilson

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