NYC Retail: Top 10 New Stores

So many new stores, so little space. Here are my top faves of the year:

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  Dylan’s Candy Bar: The city’s favorite sweets emporium opens its second Manhattan outpost in a building that once housed Andy Warhol’s infamous “Factory” studio. The 3,300-sq.-ft. shop is an over-the-top, more glitzy version of the original Dylan’s, and pays homage to Warhol with a metallic silver-painted floor and Pop art references. (33 Union Square W.)


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  Flying Tiger: The Danish brand’s first-ever U.S. store is guaranteed to make you smile. The shop is chock-full of quirky products — with about half designed in house. Some of the goods are silly and whimsical and some are functional, but nearly all are affordable. Ninety percent of Flying Tiger’s products are less than $10! (920 Broadway)


• 
  Le District: This 30,000-sq.-ft. French marketplace (it’s often compared to Eataly, but has a more modern, industrial look) is made up of four districts: restaurant, cafe, garden and market. There are lots of choices for dining, drinking, noshing and buying food. (225 Liberty St.)


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  Lowe’s: Roughly a quarter the size of a traditional Lowe’s, the 30,000-sq.-ft. store is Lowe’s first urban location. It uses technology to make up for the reduced space, and includes refrigerator-sized, state-of-the art touchscreens that show the full breadth of appliance offerings. (2008 Broadway)


• 
  M.A.C. Makeup Studio: The beauty giant puts the spotlight on its services at its first-ever makeup studio. The 950-sq.-ft. space has an ultra-modern vibe, with smoked mirrors and abstract graphics. Six makeover chairs have attached iPads that display a long list of available services. (825 Lexington Ave.)


• 
  Microsoft: High-definition video walls, a 30-ft.-high Microsoft monitor and digital signage stream video, images and information throughout the tech giant’s largest store yet. Customers can play Xbox One on video walls, while surrounded in directional sound. The five-story high, 22,369-sq.-ft. space also has two theaters for events. (677 Fifth Ave.)


• 
  Northern Grade: A mix of indie fashions, artwork and home goods, Northern Grade has moved from pop-ups to its first permanent store, in the South Street Seaport area, which is getting back its retail groove. The 3,200-sq.-ft. shop carries goods from about 40 brands and artisans. (203 Front St.)


• 
  Patagonia: Activism, yoga classes and free repairs are all on the menu at Patagonia’s new Soho location. The store features a “Worn Wear” station, where staffers repair Patagonia products, and a community space for meetings. In line with the brand’s strong eco ethos, reclaimed materials are used throughout. (72 Greene St.)


• 
  Repetto: Best know for its pricey ballet flats, the French brand’s first U.S. location includes a dancing area and an atelier, where shoes can be customized in some 250 colors. The ballet-inspired shop features the brand’s complete offerings, including its first line of heels and fancy skirts — and store associates who are professional dancers.” (400 W. Broadway)


• 
  True Religion: The brand’s biggest and most digitally savvy space has storefront windows that display a continuous stream of video content and in-store digital kiosks. The 3,000-sq.-ft. store has an edgy feel, with an oversized mural by a famed local street artist. (863 Broadway)

Marianne Wilson



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