Shop Talk

TRENDING STORES: PetSmart debuted a new store concept that puts a big emphasis on pet services. The 7,400-sq.-ft. PetSmart Pet Spa, in Oceanside, N.Y., is decidedly smaller than PetSmart’s typical footprint and features a self-service dog wash, a grooming salon and a coffee bar-lounge area. The overall modern design includes a circular “concierge” desk with a bakery full of dog treats.…Amazon Books plans to open its fourth location, a 7,200-sq.-ft. store in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Since debuting last fall in Seattle, Amazon Books has confirmed plans for a store in San Diego, and one in Portland, Ore. … Abercrombie & Fitch will unveil its long-awaited new prototype in early 2017 at Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio. … Department store retailer Belk is giving its Crown & Ivy private-label brand its very own freestanding location. The brand, which Belk launched in 2014, will open a store at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, N.C. … Grandin Road has made the leap to brick-and-mortar, opening a Halloween pop-up in Macy’s Manhattan flagship. The 1,400-sq.-ft. shop is elaborately designed to offer a spooky, immersive experience complete with digital signage animated with spiders and scary animatronic products, which are also available for purchase. An on-site photo booth allows customers to create a fun memento of their visit. … Cole Haan opened a global flagship at the new Westfield World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. The store features a series of rooms inspired by a residential layout clad in black, white and gray finishes. The design blends traditional and modern aesthetics together with a large-scale marble mosaic pattern in the front foyer and herringbone wood floors and paneling. With more than half of all purchases expected to be executed on mobile POS, the space doesn’t have a traditional cash wrap. The retailer has partnered with UberRUSH to deliver products purchased from the store to anywhere in New York City. Customers will be able to receive delivery alerts and track their packages in real time.

Company Updates: api(+), Tampa, named Fernando Castillo as the new studio director of its Miami office. Castillo previously worked with Pavlik Design Team, PDT International and ID & Design International in Miami.