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.