H&M and More: Downtown Brooklyn's Evolving Retail Landscape

Everything She Wants reported that Conway stores were closing in NYC, and they did. But as one of the cashiers at the downtown Brooklyn outpost informed us last month as we snatched up the remaining sale

Conway in downtown Brooklyn re-opens.

merchandise, the store would re-open under new management (Fallas).

While the other Conway stores in Manhattan remain shuttered, this weekend we perused the "new" Fulton Mall store...but what's inside leaves a lot to be desired. Pum-pum shorts, polyester maxi dresses and a sparse assortment of other gaudy clothing and accessories. If this is the "Grand Opening," as the sign outside proclaims, we'd hate to see what the store's next closing will look like.

Armani Exchange represents the new Fulton Mall./Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins

Downstairs--which used to be fully stocked with nicely priced housewares and home goods--most of the shelves are still empty. And flimsy fashion shoes for women and girls are hung against a wall and strewn on shelves. There are also some random men's shoes, and to be fair the black and tan Airwalk sneakers we spotted for $19.99 were the store's best offering.

Popular retailers like H&M and Nordstrom Rack have set up shop in downtown Brooklyn.

While Conway's prices were cheap, the merchandise was never this tacky. And we don't think this reincarnation of the beloved bargain department store will survive in the evolving
Fulton Mall/downtown Brooklyn landscape.

There's a Shake Shack. Need we say more?

With the influx of popular retailers like H&M, Brooklyn Industries, Armani Exchange, Swarovski, Polo, and Gap, American Eagle Outfitters and Banana Republic outlet stores, the mall is clearly trying to deter Brooklynites from shopping in Manhattan and attract a more affluent customer.

This spring, T.J. Maxx and Nordstrom Rack will open next to H&M, and Last Call by Neiman Marcus will open in fall 2014 next to the new Sephora and It's Sugar stores at the corner of Joralemon and Court Street.

Comments

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

It's the end of an era. Conway discount stores are closing . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to New York City, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore. I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued. I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store. And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and white checkered pants with a matching lime green

Celebrate the Holiday Season with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City

Watching the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater makes me proud to be a Black woman. This ballet company is graced by dancers of color who can tackle any technique or dance style. But whether the choreography is rooted in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop or ballet, they do it the Ailey way, which means they move with so much culturally rooted soulfulness and swag that I find myself marveling at their languid form and fierce footwork. In my lifetime, I've seen the Ailey company perform at least a dozen times and each time I picked a performance that included Mr. Ailey's beloved "Revelations." I will never grow tired of witnessing this jubilant homage to the Black Southern Baptist church. By the end I'm always standing, singing and clapping along with the rest of the audience's Amen chorus. Yes, rock a my soul in the bosom of Abraham ! Like most theatrical events and performing arts programs, this is Ailey's comeback season after going dark in 2020 due to

Spring Cleaning: Clean Out Your Closet and Earn Extra Cash

Remember clothing? As much as we love our athleisure, we can still recall what it was like to wake up and put on something other than hoodies, T-shirts, joggers and leggings. And now that coronavirus vaccines are available and we're resuming some sort of normalcy, we look forward to traveling again and meeting up with fellow vaccinated family and friends for brunch and outdoor fun (still wearing masks and socially distancing in public spaces). We also look forward to refreshing our wardrobe. But if you want to make room for new garments, it's time to declutter and find a new home for the clothes, shoes and accessories you haven't worn in a season. Donating to a thrift store or charitable organization is always a good option. For certain items in new or nearly new condition, however, you can also earn some cash by selling them at a consignment shop. Here are several e-commerce and retail consignment shops we love: thredUp makes cleaning out your closet easy. Simply re

Everything She Wants

Search This Blog