Soho is buzzing with hype and construction noise as Alexander Wang's flagship and the Kardashians' Dash are both set to open any week now. Converse and a new American Eagle store are also preparing to open, along with Journelle and Marimekko at Crate & Barrel.
Ralph Lauren
America's patron designer just opened a super-sized, 22,000-square-foot flagship at 888 Madison, but isn't stopping there. Next up will be an also sizable 8,000-square-foot shop at 109 Prince Street, a landmark building across from the Apple store. Windows currently feature classic Ralph models and WET PAINT signs.
American Eagle
Moving just a few spaces north on Broadway, American Eagle is setting up its new, slightly bigger home across from Hollister. Between the new digs opening up and the legions of tourists we spotted waiting to get into the existing store this mornng, it's hard to believe the company reported such significant losses this year.
Converse
Broadly slated for a winter 2010 opening, Converse's store-in-progress proclaims from its windows "You Never Forget Your First." We're not sure what we're supposed to think about the double entendre, but we can't wait to see what makes the brand's first NYC store so unforgettable.
Frye Boots
The Levi's of boots is satisfying their loyal fanbase with their first NYC store, replacing MAC cosmetics, at 113 Spring Street between Mercer and Green. The block's poised to become a hub of new stores, including the New York outpost of the Kardashians' Miami-based boutique, Dash.
Dr. Martens
Soho's shoe invasion is also joined by the punk combat boot brand Dr. Marten's in the former Mackage pop-up space at 148 Spring, between West Broadway and Wooster. When we walked by the other day, newly arrived boxes of Docs were being furiously unloaded.
Journelle
The Flatiron's elegant lingerie emporium is set to open on Greene Street next month. Fantastic news for the downtown girl in need of chic underpinnings, but we wonder if fellow lingerie purveyor Kiki de Montparnasse, just two doors down, will have its panties in a bunch (we couldn't help ourselves).
Signage has been up for some time now, but still no word on an official opening date for DVF's latest outpost at 135 Wooster Street. We can never get enough of von Furstenberg and can't wait to behold fashion's two whopping personalities—the store sits across from Betsey Johnson—sharing the same block.
Now Open! Marimekko at Crate & Barrel
If you can't get enough of the Finnish pop-art patterns, then stop by the new Marimekko store-in-store at Crate & Barrel Soho. Not only does the store-in-store feature the label's signature patterned textiles for the home, but you can scoop up bags and selected apparel too. The format is new, but the collaboration is a longstanding one—Crate & Barrel's founders were the ones that discovered the design house back in the 1960s and helped to popularize it.
