Shop Talk: Nordstrom, Roots, Dry Goods and Champion Athleticwear

Nordstrom made its full-line debut in Manhattan with the opening of its first-ever freestanding men’s outpost. The handsomely furnished, three-level, 47,000-sq.-ft. Nordstrom men’s store is big on service, convenience and customization. The in-store Levi’s Tailor Shop (above) offers custom embroidery on any item, along with shirt pressing and express hem services. The store also features three-hour delivery throughout Manhattan, returns kiosks, reserve online and try-on in store, an alterations/tailoring department and complimentary personal stylists. Customers with fashion emergencies can get help anytime through the store’s “24/7 express services.”

Canadian apparel retailer Roots will open two stores in the Boston area in June, at Natick Mall (Natick, Mass.) and MarketStreet Lynnfield (Lynnfield, Mass.). The openings are part of Roots’ plan to open 10 to 14 U.S. stores by the end of 2019.

Another Canadian retailer, RYU (Respect Your Universe), will make its U.S. debut this year with two locations on the opposite coasts. The brand, known for its tech-styled performance apparel for men and women, is opening a store in Brooklyn, N.Y., and another in Venice Beach, Calif.

Dry Goods, the specialty store banner owned by department store company Von Maur, plans to open 12 stores at malls throughout the Midwest in 2018.

Champion Athleticwear, the nearly 100-year-old athletic apparel brand, has opened its first U.S. store in Los Angeles. The outpost features on-site customization, allowing shoppers to design personalized Champion threads, exclusive specialized product assortments, and frequent product drops from the company’s global lines. Key materials reference the brand’s authentic athletic wear positioning and include reclaimed basketball court hardwood floors, gym lockers and metal mesh (like the mesh fabric Champion pioneered).