The Plaza Struggles To Sign Big Name Retailers

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[Photo via darrellsilver/Curbed Flickr Pool]

When New York landmark The Plaza reopens early next year, the storied building will be home to a ton of new shops. But the big names that many associate with luxury retail (Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Hermès, etc) won't be among them. Instead, you'll find brands like Montblanc (pens, jewelry), Seize sur Vingt (dress-shirts and suits), Kenneth Jay Lane (jewelry), Jay Strongwater (baubles, home-decor items) and Morgenthal Frederics (eyewear). Only 65% of the retail space in the building has been claimed, and labels like Catherine Malandrino, Rachel Roy and Donna Karan may also be moving in, though none have signed leases. The whole thing feels a bit sad, and disappointing, but WWD tries to put a positive spin on the situation, nothing that "The Plaza may not be getting the power luxury retail brands it originally envisioned, but the project is amassing a mix of downtown labels, emerging European fashion talents and high-end gift and jewelry brands as tenants..." Well, whatever pays the bills.
· Plaza Suite: An Eclectic Mix of High-End Retail [WWD, subscription req]