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Hurricane Irene's impact on retail in New York was a lot like its impact on everything else in New York: Ultimately, not as bad as it could have been. Stores across the city shuttered, including luxury boutiques in Soho and all the major department stores on Madison Avenue and in midtown. Up and down the East Coast, Target shuttered over 100 stores, while Macy's Inc., which runs both Macy's and Bloomingdale's, planned to keep 96 of its regional stores closed on Sunday. But the long-term effect on sales won't be that bad. One expert told Women's Wear Daily that the financial damage "was a lot less than was expected, especially in the Northeast."
· Irene Packs Less Wallop Than Feared [WWD, subscription req'd]
· Soho Hurricane Gallery: Boxes at Chanel, Sandbags at Elie Tahari [Racked NY]
· Serious Hurricane Precautions at Bloomingdale's, Crest Hardware [Racked NY]