Top 10 ‘Unmissable’ New Stores
New York City -- Looking for a hit list of the hottest new stores around the globe? Check out the 10 contenders below. The list comes from the folks behind the cutting-edge, London-based retail consultancy echochamber.com.
Forever 21, Times Square, New York City: This vast, 90,000-sq.ft. store has a sense of quality that is astonishing given its low price-points. The best feature is the exterior: an amazing interactive digital billboard features giant-sized virtual models who take Polaroid pictures of the crowd below.
H&M flagship, Paris: The “push for posh” trend continues to mount, with the opening of another ultra-glamorous fast-fashion designed by yet another signature architect (Jean Nouvel). The three-level store, on the Champs Elysees, is clad in exposed white limestone and has sleek, industrial fixtures. The façade has a matrix of 11 LED screens.
Selfridges, shoe galleries, London: At 35,000-sq.-ft. with more than 4,000 shoes on display, this is the world’s largest shoe destination. There are six galleries, each with their own unique design.
Kurt Geiger, London: This 4,000-sq.-ft. flagship -- a glamorous showcase for the best of Kurt Geiger’s collections -- is designed as a jewelry shop for shoes. An amazing shoe chandelier -- created from more than 250 shoes -- is the star feature.
One New Change, London: An exquisite piece of architectural design, this center is a welcome addition to the City of London, bringing new life to the area at evenings and weekends.
Chin Chin Laboratorists, London: Ice cream becomes a spectator spot at London’s first Nitro ice cream parlor. Chin Chin sells ice cream made to order and frozen using liquid nitrogen,. The space is a genuine laboratory, with experimental new flavors developed all the time.
The Eye Hub, Melbourne: There is a big emphasis on service, with an endless array of consultation rooms, a simulation room for cyclists to test for wind and glare, and “eyepods” where you can learn all about eyes
Kmart, store of the future, Melbourne: Similar to H&M Paris, this 64,585-sq.-ft. store reflects the ‘push for posh’ trend, where big-box discounters are driving investment in sophisticated design.
F&H by Fanci, Hong Kong: An innovative new concept by Hong Kong cosmetics retailer Fanci, F&H combines nutrition and beauty into a new total wellness store. The small shop is divided into four areas: Health, Food, Diet, and Beauty, with a consultation zone to the side.
Eataly, New York City: The 50,000-sq.-ft. Eataly has seven eateries and rooftop beer garden with its own microbrewery. It also features a host of shops and service counters, including a ‘vegetable butcher,’ and also a food school.
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