The National Retail Federation expo kicks off in the Big Apple this week – in part two of our preview we look at some ground-breaking New York stores inspiring retailers worldwide.

Adidas flagship on Fifth Avenue, New York City

Adidas debuted its 45,000 sq ft store on Fifth Avenue last year

In autumn 2016, the world’s two largest sports-fashion makers – Nike and Adidas – opened massive multi-floor stores in Manhattan as a way to champion a more immersive retail experience.

Features include customised shirts and shoes, athletic consultation services and same-day delivery in New York City.

“Consumers just expect more,” says Nike’s president of global direct Heidi O’Neill at the company’s new 55,000 sq ft store in SoHo. “They expect more immersive experiences at retail like you are seeing here.”

It’s the second major retail space the company has opened in Manhattan – the first was the Niketown store in Midtown, just south of Central Park – and the third is planned on Fifth Avenue, where Nike signed a lease to take over a seven-floor, 69,214 sq ft space.

Adidas already operates a large store in SoHo but debuted a 45,000 sq ft store on Fifth Avenue late last year.

Smaller rival Under Armour is also planning a Manhattan push as it aims to open a flagship at the site of the former FAO Schwarz toy store.

Major openings

Beyond sports, New York City saw some major store openings last year.

Back in February, Barneys opened in Downtown in Chelsea.

Smaller than the uptown flagship and targeted on the neighbourhood with young, fashion-forward brands, one of its main attractions is a marble spiral staircase that runs through the centre of the store.

Another eagerly anticipated opening was Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s first East Coast store for The Row.

The sisters took over a townhouse off Madison Avenue that was once a Japanese tea house and turned it into a luxury residence where (almost) everything is for sale.

Aquazzura’s co-founder and creative director Edgardo Osorio said of its Madison Avenue opening in early May: “I wanted it to be a church of shoes.”

Next door, the French heritage brand Moynat’s first ever store is modelled to look like one of its cases.

Other noteable openings in 2016 included:

  • LuluLemon, which opened a quirky lab store to test out new styles
  • Saks Off 5th, the department store’s first off-price location in the city, made its debut
  • California mini chain Planet Blue established its first East Coast store in May
  • Warby Parker opened its first Brooklyn store
  • Westfield’s shopping mall at the World Trade Center opened its doors
  • American brand Coach celebrated its 75th anniversary with a huge new Fifth Avenue store.

However, the city’s high rents and cautiously spending tourists have played a role in a raft of retail departures.

Benetton exited all of its stores in the US, including four in Brooklyn and two in Queens.

Others kept stores in the city, but downsized their presence.

Looking further ahead, Neiman Marcus will open a flagship store in New York City in 2018, while Nordstrom will open a major complex in 2019.

Focus on NRF

What: The National Retail Federation’s Retail’s Big Show

Where: Javits Center, Hell’s Kitchen, New York

When: January 15-17

Why: This former retail tech-fest is now much more than a geek shop, featuring heavyweight keynotes, a diverse retail mix and the chance to check out New York’s latest chic store concepts.

Details: nrfbigshow.nrf.com

NRF by numbers

  • 33,000 attendees
  • 510 exhibitors
  • 3,300 retail companies
  • 118 sponsors
  • 300 speakers

    NRF Big Show 2014

  • 11 keynotes
  • 6 feature stage sessions
  • 2 expos totalling 240,000sq ft