HP Village to Feature More Designer Stores
As our own Caitlin Adams reports, Highland Park Village has three new designer-retail shops that’re incoming: Alexander McQueen, James Perse, and Ermenegildo Zegna.
The Village’s latest addition, Saint Laurent Paris, has just opened its doors.
Even as a person who adores fashion, this saddens me. IF the Village is populated more and more by ridiculously priced boutiques rather than the more reasonable upscale stores, then I will have to limit my trips to the Village to Mi Cocina or the grocery store. I loved Cooters, Calame, Rugby, the bookstore and the five and dime. I genuinely question how many local residents will frequent designer boutiques.
Who shops at these places enough to keep them in business?
Good question, A.B. None of the stores would ever release their shoppers’ names but I can assure you that sales across the board are very strong. @Cynthia, the owners of Highland Park Village loved those stores too. Cooters and Calame chose to leave – Cooter’s recognized that their business was forever changed by the digital age and called it quits. The owners of Calame are retiring and chose to leave. The entire Rugby brand was shut down by its parent company, Ralph Lauren. The owners are also from Highland Park and want to keep HP Village inviting to the community. You can email me with any questions or concerns you have and I’ll do my best to address them. kersten@hpvillage.com
Out of towners, international or otherwise, shop there. The sales have increased dramatically since they have turned over the tenant base, per a round table i attended last spring at which Ray Washburn was a speaker. Also, I would imagine that the retailers going in dont care if they make a single sale…they are there for brand marketing as the center is on the path to be comparable to the few ultra high end centers/retail districts in the world. That’s the plan by the owners and they are succeeding at it. I expect that unless Tom Thumb has a fixed rate renewal option left, it will be priced out and replaced by a Dean & Daluca (sp?) type store. All of the above doesn’t bother me in the least because we only frequent the movie theatre.
I bet Pockets is pissed that their Zegna line will be across the street now.
@Avid Reader- Pockets sold their lease and store to Zegna. The owner is retiring.
Who said the economy is bad?