Helmut Lang Soho: Not Opening Today, Exact Location a Mystery

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Bigfoot, the treasure of El Dorado, Al Capone's vault—they're all enduring enigmas, and now it's time to add one to the list: The location of the soon-to-open Helmut Lang Soho shop. Last we heard, the label shuttered its Meatpacking District outpost with plans to open yesterday on the corner of Spring and Mercer Streets and also carry the hotly anticipated Olivier Theyskens-designed Theory line.

Yesterday's reconnaissance mission to the intersection of interest revealed an entire corner building shrouded in white tarp and scaffolding. So first off, no, it's not opening now and two, the entire building is the home of the Judd Foundation. The historical cast-iron corner structure began a three-year renovation project last summer.

Before we all start thinking that the Judd Foundation sold out and plans to collect some major rent from a retailer (it is a prime locale after all), not so fast. A call to the offices confirmed that there there will be no retail in the building. The other three corners spots are occupied by Burton, Ben Sherman and optical boutique Solstice, none of which seem to be going anywhere.

Helmut Lang has confirmed that a store will open at some point next month, but inquiries about an exact address were met with radio silence. Were the cross streets just a rumor that got out of hand? Is there some sort of store closing in the works that's totally hush-hush? Where will the new Helmut Lang store be? We'll be waiting anxiously for the next clue in this retail riddle.
· So Long, Lang: Helmut Moves From MePa to Soho, Adds Theyskens [Racked]