Nordstrom has opened the doors to its first flagship, full-line New York location, and first ever stand-alone men’s store at 235 West 57th Street, a.k.a. Billionaire’s Row. The three-level, 47,000 square foot store offers a differentiated merchandise assortment across all categories, including popular and designer brands, along with a range of convenient services to serve customers on their terms.
The shoe department houses a Christian Louboutin shop displaying a wide range of the designer’s sporty and formal offerings. The Nike Men’s Project, a sportswear and shoe destination for style and fitness-obsessed customers, will offer the brand’s latest sneakers and apparel collections. Olivia Kim, vice president of creative projects, has curated a special Comme des Garçons (CDG) shop that will feature one of the largest local selections of the fashion house’s coveted brands. Olivia commissioned artist Marc Hundley to design a space that invokes both the ethos of CDG and the streets of New York. In a first for Nordstrom, the men’s flagship will also feature designer shops by Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, Valentino and Dior. Each space is united by a chainmail motif, but are distinguished by personalized fixtures adhering to each brand.
The store also features an array of customization and personalization experiences, including the Levi’s Tailor Shop, where customers can shop Levi’s Authorized Vintage, one of the largest vintage denim collections in existence, and also design custom embroidery on any item, heat press a shirt or get an express hem while they wait. In addition, Shinola will offer watch customization in addition to a selection of tech products exclusive to the flagship, Samuelson Custom Suit Visualizer is an interactive digital made-to-measure suiting experience at an accessible price point, Eton Endless Aisle is a digital touchscreen offering an expanded assortment of dress shirts and ties, and Le Labo will create personalized fragrance labels in the grooming department.
To celebrate the opening, brands have created limited-time exclusives, such as Cole Haan NYCH, a curated quarterly collection only available for 30 days, exclusive denim fit and wash options from Rag & Bone, Paige, AG Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, an exclusive camo jacket by Canada Goose and footwear from Timberland and Magnanni. The vast shoe department will include Reebok, Common Projects, Vans, Alden, Church’s, Salvatore Ferragamo, Balenciaga, Gucci and exclusives from Greats and Jack Erwin.
Top-notch service is a focal point of the new Nordstrom. It‘s all about convenience, speed and ease. At each store entrance shoppers will find Express Returns kiosks, plus Style Boards, 24/7 Buy Online & Pick-Up in Store, Reserve Online & Try in Store and Three-Hour Same Day Delivery anywhere in Manhattan—all which seek to bridge the convenience of online shopping with the personal experience of the store. Shoppers will have access to 24/7 Express Services during all hours for fashion emergencies like lost luggage or items that went unpacked, in addition a cell phone charging station, expert Shoeshine, an onsite Alternations & Tailoring department and Complimentary Personal Stylists.
Need a drink? The Clubhouse Bar serves drinks and meals, while taking in intimate views of Central Park and Columbus circle. Hand-crafted cocktails, a selection of fine wines, as well as carefully selected snacks with seasonality in mind, including warm toasts, indulgent melts and a signature lobster roll developed by Nordstrom Chefs will be available. The Coffee Shop will feature Toby’s Estate Coffee, a small batch roaster based in Brooklyn, serving unique handcrafted drinks by skilled baristas. As an added twist, the coffee bar will also offer draft beer on tap in addition to a section of local pastries.
As for the Nordstrom Men’s Store NYC, it features new design concepts like an all-glass façade to bring in more natural light, unboxing the display windows and connecting the shopping experience to the city. An open, flexible floor plan allows for an evolving curation of how products are displayed over time. The store environment is designed to create a sense of discovery, allowing customers to navigate easily and find new brands they haven’t experienced before.
Last but not least, Nordstrom has been a longtime believer of investing in artwork for its stores. New Yorkers will experience an extensive collection, featuring 39 works by both international and American artists, with a quarter being local. Suspended in the center of a three-story staircase, a floating, diaphanous tree sculpture entitled “Arctic Tree” by the Seattle-based artist John Grade is a nod to the retailer’s Seattle roots.
Topping of this mecca of commerce is Nordstrom commitment to give back to the communities it serves. Each year the company donates 1 percent of its gift card sales to worthy nonprofits in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. As part of the Men’s Store opening, Nordstrom has committed $5million to New York over the next three years. As part of its Nordstrom Cares mission, the plan is to support a number of programs and organizations that care for kids and empower youth, as well as those that have a significant impact on the community. In the coming months, Nordstrom will be forming a NYC Community Advisory Board to attract, vet and award community grants. The first grant will go to the Hetrick-Martin Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest organization supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to reach their full potential.
