Despite what anyone else might think, I firmly believe there’s only so much shopping a person can do from a laptop or phone before the desire to do it in person comes out. Crowds and occasional chaos aside, there’s nothing that beats the feeling of physically entering retail stores and perusing the shelves and getting an up-close look at the assortment of products in front of you. The store itself can also be an unforgettable experience, and these days, brick-and-mortar stores are stepping up their game and bringing back a bit of fun to the retail landscape.
This year alone, shops have transformed small spaces into entirely new worlds, many too stunning not to snap a photo or two and upload on the feed. Whether you’re in New York City or heading out of town, there are stores that will deliver on both the clothing and retail atmosphere fronts all over the world, even in peak winter time. Ahead, we’ve selected 11 of the best and buzziest new retail stores worth checking out this season, from temporary pop-ups to permanent locations.
Comme Si
Comme Si, a luxe sock and loungewear brand, just launched a temporary Brooklyn store, created in tandem with designers Devan Elías, John Sohn, and Yoonjee Kwak. Their debut boutique is a pop-up located inside Hudson Wilder, and offers a unique experience that is authentic to the brand’s roots. Founder Jenni Lee pulled from a multitude of sources, pairing ’70s Milanese interiors with traditional Korean Hanok architecture. Amidst the different aspects of Korean minimalism, you’ll find pieces of her heritage scattered throughout, from a console and wall display with patterns found in traditional Korean tiles to upholstered stools and a collection of ceramics inspired by large onggi jars. The pop-up will be running until January 2024.
142 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Bottega Veneta
There are tons of Bottega Veneta stores scattered across cities, but if you happen to be in Colorado, then you must check out the fashion house’s new Aspen location, which recently opened in tandem with its partnership with Aspen Art Museum. The brand brings inspiration from the area’s snowy mountain tops into the 1,882-square-foot store on East Hyman Avenue. Take a break from the slopes and step into a warm and inviting atmosphere, complete with ceiling beams made from Aspen wood veneer and a soothing, natural color palette featuring shades of white, cream, gray, and beige. The freestanding display shelves and clothes rails draw inspiration from the surrounding trees, while the comfortable seating areas evoke the feeling of lounging on soft rocks or stones. As always, Bottega Veneta continues to serve as a major source of design inspiration for all.
428 E Hyman Avenue, Aspen, CO 81611
Beverly’s
Two years into launching the business, Beverly’s made history as the first Asian-owned store in New York City’s Rockefeller Center. Now, the cult homewares label has headed back downtown to its permanent home in Chinatown. Founder Beverly Nguyen opened her namesake homeware shop and specialty market in the neighborhood’s buzzy Orchard Street. With the help of architect Louis Rambert and Yudai Kanayama’s Serious Construction Company, the stylist turned her tiny pocket of retail space into a curated cookware cornucopia, selling an array of kooky ceramics and locally sourced essentials—like ladles and woks—alongside artisanal olive oil, fancy tea towels, and quilted knickknacks.
27 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Loeffler Randall
In 2021, Loeffler Randall found success with its first flagship store in New York City’s SoHo. But for its next location, which opened this fall, the fashion brand decided to go for an unexpected location in Charleston, South Carolina—which is currently being advertised as an up-and-coming retail haven. With 1,450 square feet to work with, the Charleston location is more than double the size of the 625-square-foot store in Manhattan. Sitting on King Street, Loeffler Randall adds a pastel punch to the surrounding area with its mix of event-ready sandals, handbags, accessories, and ready-to-wear clothing. Come for all the clothes, stay for the custom scallop table by Waka Waka!
145 King Street, Suite CA, Charleston, SC 29401
Gohar World
Gohar World opened a holiday pop-up in SoHo that quickly captured the attention of both locals and visitors alike. Located at 181 Lafayette Street, the store offers shoppers a chance to snag their delightful tablewares in person, from their latest Table IV collection to unique vintage finds from their “Old World” series. What makes the shop warm and inviting is its interiors, revamped in an abandoned church space designed by Rafael Prieto of Casa Bosques. The space features custom wallpaper made out of photographs that the designer took of Eglise Saint-Honorat in Arles, France. On top of providing a physical location, founders Nadia and Laila Gohar also host workshops like table-styling classes and offer embroidery personalization on linen products in the space. The shop will remain open until January 14, so be sure to get a visit in before it’s gone!
181 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10013
Buck Mason
Buck Mason recently opened a new concept store in the small town of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, which also happens to be the hometown of cofounder Erik Allen and his wife, Leanne Ford. Never intimidated by a DIY project, Leanne took the lead on designing the interiors of their latest brick-and-mortar, a space housing a variety of wardrobe essentials and classic American home goods. Expect to find crewneck tees and wide-leg pants placed alongside a curated selection of hand-picked items such as art, pottery, apothecary products, small home goods, lighting, and furniture—all of which were specifically chosen by Leanne from around the world.
426 Beaver Street, Sewickley, PA 15143
Salter House
Salter House had been a neighborhood favorite in Brooklyn Heights for years, but an opportunity arose for the family business to birth a new location in New York’s East Village this spring. Founders Sandeep and Carson Salter renovated a former tenement building from the 1900s, transforming the 450-square-foot space into a cottagecore fever dream. The intimate setting houses an array of sustainable houseware goods, with the walls surrounding it leaning into cellar aesthetics but with a warmer approach—the brick, metal, and stone features of Kettle’s Yard, an art gallery and house in Cambridge, England.
34 East 2nd Street, New York, NY 10003
Bode Women’s
After Bode launched its foray into womenswear, there was a lot weighing on Emily Adams Bode Aujla’s mind. One of them was to create a store that fully embodied who exactly the “Bode woman” was. The designer placed her first womenswear store in New York’s Tribeca, not too far from the men’s location on Hester. The interior of the womenswear store, like all of the brand’s spaces, was designed by Green River Project, the firm founded by her husband Aaron Aujla, and Benjamin Bloomstein. The latest addition to the Bode universe in the downtown district has a familiar snug and playful feel like its LES branch but with a slightly more elevated approach.
79 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013
Guest In Residence
When supermodel Gigi Hadid launched her very own cashmere label, Guest In Residence, last year, it was only a matter of time before it expanded from pop-up to permanent status. The brand’s first flagship store opened on Bond Street, with bright yellow lettering luring customers from the window into a cozy cashmere-studded universe. Upon entrance, shoppers are greeted by vintage decor and dressing suites outfitted with Douglas fir wood panels. Designed in collaboration with Yaoska Interiors, the store offers a sense of cabincore calmness amidst the busy, finished with soothing 1950s Danish touches via club chairs in the boutique.
21 Bond St, New York, NY 10012
Dion Lee
During Miami Art & Design Week, Dion Lee opened its first U.S. and international flagship store in the heart of the Design District, expanding beyond its six locations in Australia. The store’s subversive designs heavily influence the space it occupies, resulting in a sleek, sculptural, and slightly gritty atmosphere. Designed by Smart Design Studio, the interiors resemble an art gallery rather than a retail space, allowing the collections to shine on a blank canvas. There are polished concrete floors, custom helix spiral staircase, and an abundance of stainless steel, plus the store features artwork from Berlin-based artist Oliver Laric.
115 NE 41 Street, Miami, FL 33137
Essx
Founders Laura Baker, Abe Pines, and Yoel Zagelbaum opened Essx in the heart of the Lower East Side. Described as a multidesigner concept store, Essx aimed to bring back immersive IRL shopping balanced with culture and commerce. The 7,000-square-foot space was designed by Leong and Leong in collaboration with Yossi Shetrit. The subversive interiors shelter its assortment of global contemporary and hypebeast-approved brands. Community programs also take place within these walls, including a gallery and style studio, which offers personal shopping and consigning services.
140 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
