While downtown Baristaville is still peppered with many empty store fronts, there is some recent evidence of an uptick in retailer confidence.
As promised, Johari Montclair — our local haven for women’s undergarments — has opened their new space at 465 Bloomfield Avenue. The lovely interior is airy, feminine and easy to browse, and features more of all the popular lines that owner Deborah Furr’s customers have been requesting, but which she had no room to carry in her old store on South Park Street. The new place has plus sizes, a new line of resort wear from designers like Tommy Bahama, sleep wear, body shapers, hosiery, accessories, and all the things a woman needs to support and enhance her various body parts.
While Johari might be a shop geared towards the ladies, gentlemen will have their dedicated space in Montclair Center as well. Purchased Possessions is currently undergoing remodeling and will be opening soon in Furr’s former South Park Street space. Based on their web site — and the one mannequin standing in the shop — the boutique will feature “sophisticated eye popping head turning ensembles” for men. The fine men’s apparel inventory focuses on luxurious fabrics such as fine wools, silks, mercerized cottons, cashmere, alpaca and super soft linens. The owners are a father and son team who have a shop at 140 Watsessing Ave in Bloomfield.
Diagonally across the street from Purchased Possessions, in the Siena building’s retail row, renovations are being done at 54 Park Street for Duke and Dutchess. According to the owners, the store will be a high-end boutique for both men and women, with a rustic industrial feel, in line with the Meatpacking District location of their New York shop. Duke and Dutchess is slated for a soft opening during the second week of October, and a grand opening in December.
Just east of these stores, at 10 Herman Street in the Glen Ridge Arcade shops, is the newly-opened My Blue Suede Shoes. The footwear boutique’s selection includes just what you might expect from its name, as well as other finely crafted shoes. With a business motto of “Be Cool and Comfortable in all Walks of Life,” owner Frank Difilia aims to offer unique shoes that no one else is selling. His preference for colors, in both men’s and women’s shoes, is obvious, if you just look at his feet.
Do these new retail offerings make you want to run out and get a new fall wardrobe? Will you shop local?
Robust? A lot of people seem to disagree with you on that one, Erika.
I think we’re in for a bumpy ride.
I’m not worried at all, ‘gurl. I’m diversified.
Always good to see new businesses. I wish them well!
(Were these cell phone pictures?)
Oh Roo, don’t be such a Debbie Downer… Just saying that a few brave retailers are showing some confidence. And anyway, one’s gotta be well dressed for the end of the world. I know I’ll be wearing the right size bra, at the very least!
And yes, Prof, these pics were taken from my lousy Blackberry camera. Apologies.
It’s important to have the proper foundation when dressing for the end of the world as we know it. And shoes too.
That’s the spirit, Gurl! I think Roo needs a pair of Blue Suede Shoes…
The DOW just dropped 3 percent in 20 minutes, and you’re telling me not to be a downer? I’m not the one doing all the selling! But I hear shares of Blue Suede Shoes LLC are up. Maybe that’s a good play?
Since I am already facing the likelihood of living in a box and eating cat food when I’m older (unless someone will give an old gal a minimum wage job) I may as well be wearing a good bra and some beautiful shoes inside that box.
As a Clothing Industry exec- I don’t agree at all that Retail is Robust!
Traditional big box retailers are really hurting …We are in the worst inflationary supply & demand cycle that I have seen in + 25 years in industry
Johari will do well – they have a built in customer base already that was excited about the bigger space- greater selection ..
The shoe stores might do well…Have not been in Tory Janes this Fall – to get a sense of how their business- but the shoe store in watchuang plaza – seems to be fading …
The men’s store – well I wish them well – Are Men in montclair – really up to spending alot of money on clothes?- Most companies have gone to casual wear most days…With everyone worring about their Jobs- how they will pay their mortage – taxes etc…
I was in Dot Reeder a couple of weeks ago – discussing with the owner – how the perception of montclarians spending money is false …they don’t spend a lot
What’s the solution – I don’t have the answers – I do shop locally -
But I think we need a better balance of affordable stores as well
my 2 cents
This story is SUCH A RELIEF!!! Now I can go back to sleep and never worry again.
(The old adage that the best camera is the one you have with you notwithstanding, you should invest in a real camera– one that takes pictures worthy of those blue suede shoes.)
Don’t worry, go shopping. America’s mantra.
“all the things a woman needs to support and enhance her various body parts”. I need some enhancing for my various body parts. Shopping! Ah if life was only that simple.
Yay! More stores that I can’t afford!
Have you seen how much catfood costs these days, ‘gurl?
Oh ‘roo, please don’t burst yet another bubble.
Gurl, I suspect rice & beans, oatmeal & macaroni are cheaper than cat food. And instead of a box, may I suggest a mobile home, which you can find in some parts of the country for $25K or less?
That’s where I expect to wind up at the rate my “savings” are going: a trailer park in a swamp.
Trailer park in a swamp. That could be Watsessing Park in a few years.
My advice: hope for catfood, plan on oatmeal.
Kit, maybe we can get a group of boomers with decimated 401k plans (because, you know, we should all have individual retirement accounts instead of pensions and social security) to pool our money and get a big house in a place with low taxes, like Brooklyn or Austin or Portland, and share our expenses. My nice bra and shoes should work nicely in that kind of an environment.
Ramen, still around 15-20 cents a package
I took one of those life expectancy calculator things — good thing I’m living to 95 years ’cause I’ll be working 94 of them.
Don’t look now Roo, but it’s getting worse by the minute…
http://www.cnbc.com/id/44624491
“Don’t worry, go shopping. America’s mantra.”
No, America’s mantra is: “Don’t worry, buy it on credit.”
“Gurl, I suspect rice & beans, oatmeal & macaroni are cheaper than cat food.”
Seriously? That’s awesome; three of those are among my favorite foods.
Back to topic: I remember reading somewhere that many successful businesses start in downturns. Is this because the barrier is lower (because all costs are lower)? Is it because people need to find *something* when they lose a job, and self-employment is a decent option? Is it a bad statistic, ignoring how many businesses start *and* *fail* in downturns?
FWIW, I still miss the casual clothing at The Olympic Shop. I also miss the service, where I could walk in in December and buy off-season clothing like a bathing suit.
…Andrew
There’s a lot of truth to what you say, Andrew. Advertising Age magazine was started during the Great Depression, for example. I guess the thinking is that if everyone else is reluctant to start a business in bad economy, there’s less competition afoot for the risk taker. And some of the startup costs might be lower, too, (i.e., rents in some cases) to entice businesses into the area. But still, I would think you would have to have a Plan B to fall back on, just in case.
Perhaps the story could have been about how retail is looking busty.
If a bunch of busty retailers in Baristaville opened up…that would be interesting.
Hope for oatmeal?
Good luck to these businesses, I hope they are a success.
I wish local landlords would court some “anchor” retailers to fill empty storefronts. Chains like Banana Republic, JCrew, Restoration Hardware would fit in well with our independents and current chains like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie(sp?). It would be awesome to have a Foot Locker as well. These chains could afford the rents and make for an even more vibrant downtown.
Did the MEDC used to do that kind of recruiting? The BID? Or is it all up to the marketing apparatus and prowess of the landlord?
I love Baristanet but I dislike Roo’s consistently “rood” and negative comments. Can he/she try to say something nice once in a while? Oy vay!!