The Death Of Soho

[rayncloudx]

i think the only good thing about the bloomingdales in soho are the shoppers. those 'big brown bags' are soo ugly

 

[softgrey]

Originally posted by faust+Jun 13th, 2004 - 6:05 pm--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (faust @ Jun 13th, 2004 - 6:05 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-banana@Jun 13th, 2004 - 12:43 am
I've never been to bloomingdales or to NYC so I can't really comment on the type of clientele they are bringing to the area.  However, I don't see this as completely negative.  Typically the large department stores serve as an ancor for local businesses.  People who go to bloomingdales more likely to check out some of the smaller shops along the way that they normally might not go to.  I think anything to keep people shopping in inner cities is a good thing, or else they'll take their business to the suburbs.

the people who shopped on Bway and in Soho/NoLiTa were there WAAAAAAY before bloomies came, so no, they are not attracting anyone. On contraire, they are capitalizing on the insane foot traffic in that part of Bway. It's just another stop, not an attraction... [/b][/quote]
mmm... i disagree a bit there faust...the people i saw shopping in bloomies seemed like they had come specifically to see bloomies...i think that initially they will draw some new customers...

it mostly seemed like suburban mothers with their daughters...

this may die down after awhile...we'll see...

but raincloudx...i can't say i was particularly happy about the customers at bloomingdale's any more than the selection...

 

[banana]

I'm not sure about New York because it has a reputation for being a vibrant city, but typically municipalities have to do a bit of smoozing to get the big fish to settle downtown. Usually they offer tax incentives or waive certain by-laws in exchange as a way to revitalize a neighbourhood that might be in decline. Bloomingdales could easily make as much money in some suburb outside of Houston where the land is cheap and they can build whatever the hell they want. I'm sure that after 9/11 they have been trying to get more businesses to settle within the city core and to draw in more tourists. Of course they are benefitting from the existing shoppers, it would be stupid of them to put a store there otherwise, but they are typically welcomed by the local government to serve the exact purpose I described earlier. Don't worry, the artsy community will just shift to another location. This happens a lot with big older cities.

 

[softgrey]

Originally posted by banana@Jun 14th, 2004 - 12:36 am
I'm not sure about New York because it has a reputation for being a vibrant city, but typically municipalities have to do a bit of smoozing to get the big fish to settle downtown. Usually they offer tax incentives or waive certain by-laws in exchange as a way to revitalize a neighbourhood that might be in decline. Bloomingdales could easily make as much money in some suburb outside of Houston where the land is cheap and they can build whatever the hell they want. I'm sure that after 9/11 they have been trying to get more businesses to settle within the city core and to draw in more tourists. Of course they are benefitting from the existing shoppers, it would be stupid of them to put a store there otherwise, but they are typically welcomed by the local government to serve the exact purpose I described earlier. Don't worry, the artsy community will just shift to another location. This happens a lot with big older cities.

banana...you are certainly correct...

however...it's not true in this case ... broadway between soho and nolita is the most heavily trafficked shopping district in NY right now...

If they were to open a branch in TRIBECA where the disaster took place on 9/11...they would get HUGE tax breaks, incentives, you name it...faust is right about this...i just think that they may bring even more people to an already crowded neighborhood...which is actually annoying for those of us who live here...

it would be fantastic if they opened in tribeca...i would applaud that... ...there's nothing over there and they could really use a boost...

 

[rayncloudx]

Originally posted by softgrey@Jun 13th, 2004 - 10:14 pm
but raincloudx...i can't say i was particularly happy about the customers at bloomingdale's any more than the selection...

i meant the shopping bags

the one in soho has nice green ones.. better than the ugly brown bags.

 

[softgrey]

Originally posted by rayncloudx+Jun 18th, 2004 - 6:58 pm--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (rayncloudx @ Jun 18th, 2004 - 6:58 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-softgrey@Jun 13th, 2004 - 10:14 pm
but raincloudx...i can't say i was particularly happy about the customers at bloomingdale's any more than the selection...

i meant the shopping bags

the one in soho has nice green ones.. better than the ugly brown bags. [/b][/quote]
omg...that's so funny!!! ...

 

[Diesel21]

Bloomies in SoHo?????? WOO HOO!!!!!!!

 

[ahhGucci]

So SoHo is alive?

 

[faust]

Originally posted by ahhGucci@Jun 22nd, 2004 - 3:05 pm
So SoHo is alive?

DEAD, deader than the people in Jamec Joyce's story...

 

[ahhGucci]

So I am reading the obituaries. I take it you don't want it to rest in peace.

 

[faust]

Resurrecting the bitching thread . Now, do we REALLY need a 3rd Diesel store in SoHo? Really, do we?

Slightly OT, but this was funny (Chris will appreciate it).

http://www.nymetro.com/nymetro/news/yearinreview/2004/10672/index.html

 

[purechris]

interesting.....you know I've been thinking about the "it" neighborhood thing lately. There was a program on NPR about it recently regarding Portland (I think) "creating" a gay district similar to The Castro so they could revamp a neighborhood and make it, how did they say, "artsy". This same thing is happening in my neighborhood. Level the projects and move out the homeless. The galleries have been there for YEARS, only now is it safe to come downtown after dark for the free wine at the monthly openings. NYC has the BBQ crowd, I've got the old money and no taste scene.

 

[MJCouture]

Resurrecting the bitching thread . Now, do we REALLY need a 3rd Diesel store in SoHo? Really, do we?

Slightly OT, but this was funny (Chris will appreciate it).

http://www.nymetro.com/nymetro/news/yearinreview/2004/10672/index.html

I stumbled in there the other day because I was shocked to see it when I walked out of Hogan, and it was total crap. Probably the worsed Diesel I have ever been in (not that the others are such gems), and the salespeople were Prada snotty.

 

[Theory]

This was destined to happen....meatpacking is in a sad state of affairs IMO...its so B&T now and I think it peaked too fast....very few people are coming there to shop nowadays....spicemarket, ono, filled with jersey folks.....all the showy new monied folks waving their bills around and spending recklessly at the bars there......

Resurrecting the bitching thread . Now, do we REALLY need a 3rd Diesel store in SoHo? Really, do we?

Slightly OT, but this was funny (Chris will appreciate it).

http://www.nymetro.com/nymetro/news/yearinreview/2004/10672/index.html

 

[Theory]

As far as too many stores in the same area..it may seem crazy but it works....every block in NYC can cater to a different market....for example....you have banana republic at 59th and Lex across from Bloomies, and then another store 5 blocks north on 65th and 3rd....the 59th store caters to the office worker crowd and is located right at the subway stop whereas the 65th st store caters to a more residential crowd on the Upper East Side...you will often see lots of young nannies shopping there with strollers....its interesting cause the 65th st store is much nicer..half the time many NYers (especially office workers/tourists) don't know where all the stores are and aren't gonna walk around into unchatered territory. This is how it works in Soho, where the Broadway shopper is often going to look for established chains and stick to the popular streets..that's why the Bloomies can carry Prada cosmetics because many Bloomies shoppers aren't going to shop at Prada or go in just for lip balm, but will do so with ease at a dept store.......there's room for everyone....I've heard the Soho Bloomies has done very well, but it is still my opinion, nearly a year later (and this comes from a faithful, unabashed Bloomies shopper) that it really isn't THAT much different from uptown.....they carry a few more trendier/hip designer but still have huge sections devoted to brands like Sevens, MJ, Theory, etc....they still have to play it safe......

 

[Luna]

I was there on Sunday..beautiful day out. perfect for shopping... the store was dead except for a few people in the makeup section...

 

[MJCouture]

The few times that I have been into the SoHo Bloomingdale's I was rather surprised. I haven't been into the uptown store in years because it is just so congested and is very out of the way for me on most days so I cant really comment on the differences, but the downtown one was kind of good. I seem to remember them having a bunch of CDG Shirt and some other very un-bloomingdale's type brands. I still dont think its worth it shop there unless you live/work in the area, but its nice to see its not total tourist bate.

 

[softgrey]

I seem to remember them having a bunch of CDG Shirt

i saw no such thing when i went there...quite the polar oopposite actually...
sparkly pale yellow chiffon skirts and such...

 

[Fashion Puss]

You know, London's Soho is going the same way. Londoners haven't started calling it SoSo for nothing...

 

[MJCouture]

i saw no such thing when i went there...quite the polar oopposite actually...
sparkly pale yellow chiffon skirts and such...

Maybe it was just the men's then? I didn't even go near the women's department. Don't get me wrong, there was a bunch of mainstream crap also, but there was a smattering of very un-Bloomingdale's type stuff.