Retail coming to Philadelphia (King of Prussia, Washington: Chinatown, parlors, ice cream)

[motownewave]

What really is the point of this thread? I don't get why it's gone on for so many pages...

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by motownewave

What really is the point of this thread? I don't get why it's gone on for so many pages...

It's for people who care about shopping, new stores, clothes and trends in fashion that might finally make it here.

Therefore news of about a possible Bloomingdales store is big a deal.

Of course folks who think fashion is pointless won't get it.

[Clark Park]

I have a question:

There's a few really upscale shops downtown on Walnut Street like Tiffany's, Williams Sonoma and Ralph Lauren. There's also Boyd's on Chestnut. Why aren't there more exclusive boutiques of that type ... such as Cartier, Coach, Prada, Hermes, Gucci, Burberry's, Elizabeth Arden, etc. ???

We do have rich people in Philly, you know.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

I have a question:

There's a few really upscale shops downtown on Walnut Street like Tiffany's, Williams Sonoma and Ralph Lauren. There's also Boyd's on Chestnut. Why aren't there more exclusive boutiques of that type ... such as Cartier, Coach, Prada, Hermes, Gucci, Burberry's, Elizabeth Arden, etc. ???

We do have rich people in Philly, you know.

My hunch is that Philly simply is not developed enough yet. If you look at most major US cities outside of NYC LA and DC there is one main super lux shopping outpost. For Philly it is King of Prussia Mall, which happens to be suburban.

The main reasons it turned into what it is today are the location and the sheer size of the complex. Being located in one of the busiest interchanges in the nation and having an average HH income of over $100k for 10sq miles is very attractive to high end designers. Honestly, outside of CC and a few other neighborhoods, Philly is very poor, and I do not think there is enough support currently to house a row of the top designer stores. KoP has such a high amount of wealth and a more sophisticated shopper hence why they can have 2 coach stores and outposts like YSL, Zegna and Hermes choose there (with talk of a Prada and Chanel in the expansion).

I do feel that if a Bloomingdales opens and is decently successful, other retailers will start to catch on.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

I have a question:

There's a few really upscale shops downtown on Walnut Street like Tiffany's, Williams Sonoma and Ralph Lauren. There's also Boyd's on Chestnut. Why aren't there more exclusive boutiques of that type ... such as Cartier, Coach, Prada, Hermes, Gucci, Burberry's, Elizabeth Arden, etc. ???

We do have rich people in Philly, you know.

Of the seven "why don't we have.." luxury retailers you list, three - Coach, Gucci and Burberry - once did have stores in Center City.

Williams-Sonoma occupies Gucci's former space in the Bellevue.

Coach had a short-lived boutique in Liberty Place.

Burberry was a longtime occupant of the 1700 block of Walnut. I forget what's taking over its old space.

BTW, while I do consider W-S upscale, I don't think of it in quite the same rarefied air as the others. Williams-Sonoma also owns West Elm, a moderate-priced furniture store with a location in the old Woolworth's in the 1300 block of Chestnut. I'd characterize West Elm as a store for people with Bo Concept tastes but budgets closer to IKEA territory.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Of the seven "why don't we have.." luxury retailers you list, three - Coach, Gucci and Burberry - once did have stores in Center City.

Williams-Sonoma occupies Gucci's former space in the Bellevue.

Coach had a short-lived boutique in Liberty Place.

Burberry was a longtime occupant of the 1700 block of Walnut. I forget what's taking over its old space.

BTW, while I do consider W-S upscale, I don't think of it in quite the same rarefied air as the others. Williams-Sonoma also owns West Elm, a moderate-priced furniture store with a location in the old Woolworth's in the 1300 block of Chestnut. I'd characterize West Elm as a store for people with Bo Concept tastes but budgets closer to IKEA territory.

Micheal Kors took over the old Burberry space. And Coach was actually located next to the old Burberry and just recently closed.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

I have a question:

There's a few really upscale shops downtown on Walnut Street like Tiffany's, Williams Sonoma and Ralph Lauren. There's also Boyd's on Chestnut. Why aren't there more exclusive boutiques of that type ... such as Cartier, Coach, Prada, Hermes, Gucci, Burberry's, Elizabeth Arden, etc. ???

We do have rich people in Philly, you know.

Believe it or not there was an Elizabeth Arden here, in CC, when I was a kid. It was on Locust St near Rittenhouse Sq.

Didn't someone mention that Burberry's was kicked out of the Walnut St location, where they had been, I think, since the 80s, because they didn't want to pay the rent?

Isn't there a Coach store in Liberty Place?

[Clark Park]

Thanks for answering my question, folks.

As more neighborhoods near Center City get gentrified I can see more upscale shops opening up.

I'm a bit disappointed by Chestnut and Walnut east of Broad Street - mostly cheap beauty supply/wig stores, dollar stores, greeting card shops, etc.

[motownewave]

Originally Posted by kyb01

It's for people who care about shopping, new stores, clothes and trends in fashion that might finally make it here.

Therefore news of about a possible Bloomingdales store is big a deal.

Of course folks who think fashion is pointless won't get it.

Thanks but by "retail" do you only mean high-end, high-fashion retail? I am somebody who loves to watch new retail developments, but I'm surprised at the lack of discussion of more ordinary retail coming to Philadelphia.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Thanks for answering my question, folks.

As more neighborhoods near Center City get gentrified I can see more upscale shops opening up.

I'm a bit disappointed by Chestnut and Walnut east of Broad Street - mostly cheap beauty supply/wig stores, dollar stores, greeting card shops, etc.

True for Chestnut, I am hoping that new developments on the 1100 block of chestnut brings either a trader joes or something similar to kick start that stretch.

Walnut is not bad though, a lot of gay clubs and restaurants all along 11th-13th st.

Originally Posted by motownewave

Thanks but by "retail" do you only mean high-end, high-fashion retail? I am somebody who loves to watch new retail developments, but I'm surprised at the lack of discussion of more ordinary retail coming to Philadelphia.

Then by all means share your findings.