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When J&R announced it would popping up inside Century 21 while their Park Row home undergoes renovations, the pairing felt—to put it lightly—a little odd. But as Rachelle Friedman explained in the latest issue of New York magazine, the pairing makes perfect sense.
"My husband and I have had a good relationship with them, especially since 9/11," said the co-founder (or, as the publication dubbed her, "the R" in J&R). "We were among the first stores down here to reopen after the attacks."
The duo have been hard at work preparing for the debut of the 1,500-square foot boutique on the lower level of the discount department store—they're slated to open on November 11th. The most difficult part? Editing their offerings.
"Pairing down from 50,000 square feet to 1,500 really changes things," Friedman explained, adding that "products that interact with a smartphone" are of high priority: "Sonos, GoPro, Fitbit."
The camera section has to be winnowed down too, from 50 models to 12. "But we're still going to carry vinyl and turntables," Friedman reassured. "It's the young kids who want the vinyl."
· 'J&R Express' Opening Inside Century 21 This Fall [Racked NY]
· J&R Says It Isn't Closing on Park Row—It's Renovating for 2015 [Racked NY]