Aritzia, the Vancouver-based fashion retailer, is making a bigger statement on Fifth Avenue.
On Monday, Aritzia opens a 33,600-square-foot flagship at 608 Fifth Avenue, just a stone’s throw from Rockefeller Center and one block from the brand’s original Fifth Avenue location, which opened in 2012 and is closing. The timing couldn’t be better considering the Rock Center Christmas tree is up and tourists, domestic and international, have been flooding the area to see the many Midtown holiday attractions.
The new Fifth Avenue Aritzia is nearly three times the size of its predecessor, and only a handful of Fifth Avenue retailers have more space, including Saks Fifth Avenue, H&M, Nike, Tiffany, Bergdorf Goodman and Uniqlo.
Count the opening as another sign that the Canadian brand is determined to grow its footprint in New York City and elsewhere in the U.S. The impulse is understandable given Canada’s population is much smaller, at just under 40 million, and the brand’s desire to create richer shopping experiences.
“Our new Fifth Avenue flagship marks an exciting new chapter for Aritzia,” said Jennifer Wong, chief executive officer of Aritzia. “This expanded space offers increased visibility in one of the world’s most iconic shopping districts, drawing a global audience from the heart of Rockefeller Center. We are proud to deepen our commitment to New York City and further establish our presence in premier retail destinations across the USA.”
Inside Aritzia’s new Fifth Avenue flagship.
Courtesy image
Wong has spearheaded the U.S. expansion that began in 2007, the launch of e-commerce in 2012, the initial public offering for Aritzia in 2016, and the relocation of a distribution center for handling greater capacity. She has been behind efforts to “reimagine,” as she has said, the shopping experience.
At a time when many retailers are reporting top-line declines, Aritzia projects 2024 net revenue in the range of 2.52 billion Canadian dollars to 2.62 billion Canadian dollars, representing growth of 8 to 12 percent.
Brian Hill founded Aritiza 40 years ago and initially rolled out 1,500-square-foot traditional boutiques. But not long ago the retailer went bigger with units that occupied 30,000 to 40,000 square feet over a couple of levels and were rigged with multiple media screens, cafés and eating areas. Last month, Aritzia opened a SoHo flagship at 560 Broadway by Prince Street, replacing the former and smaller 13-year-old SoHo store at 524 Broadway.
The company is growing its U.S. footprint in a disciplined manner, selecting prime spots. Its plan has been to open eight to 10 boutiques each year from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2027 and more specifically, 12 to 13 this year. Aritzia also aims to complete three to five store expansions from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2027, including three to four this year. The vast majority of these are in the U.S.
An evening dress from Aritzia.
In a WWD interview earlier this year, Wong said: “We’re uniquely and strategically placed in what we call ‘everyday luxury,’ [focused on] high-quality design and construction at an attainable price point. We believe there’s no one doing exactly what we’re doing.”
Natural light pours into Aritzia’s new Fifth Avenue flagship helping to spotlight the brand’s collection, which the company characterizes as “everyday luxury” though the prices are well below those of luxury brands.
Among the features at the flagship are two A-OK Cafes, one of which has a view of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree; expanded food and beverage concepts, a plant-filled atrium, two-story grand archways and brickwork add character to the site. There is also the debut of a new, gourmet soft-serve ice cream.
The new Fifth Avenue flagship features a curated mix of vintage European furniture, large millwork coffered ceilings, artwork and expansive marble surfaces enriched with wire-wheeled oak. There’s also a cozy, elevated lounge area, and advisers on the premise to provide styling and tailoring advice. There are currently four Aritzia boutiques located in Manhattan, in Hudson Yards on the far West Side, in the Flatiron neighborhood, as well as in SoHo and Midtown.
The specialty retailer designs and develops 11 in-house collections under such labels as Wilfred, Babaton, Golden, Tna, The Super Puff and Sunday Best. Aritzia also offers some third-party apparel and accessories, such as Levi’s, Asics and Citizens of Humanity. The brand targets a wide range of women, from teenagers to those who are middle-aged. Pamela Anderson, who is in her mid-50s, appeared in an Aritzia campaign last year.
A career outfit from Aritzia.
Courtesy image
