American Apparel on Lower Broad?

[antichita]

I know it's not the Gucci or Louis V. you've been hankering for, but what do you think of American Apparel? As I noticed today on my way to lunch, there appears to be one going in next to the Global Cafe on Broadway.

I think the imporant thing about this is that it's on Broadway, and it's not yet another tourist souvenir shop, or a bar, or a restaurant. Just a retail clothing store. A bit of a hipster one, but a pretty normal nonetheless. It's a small start, but I hope it means we're on our way toward a stronger, more diversified retail base in the core that doesn't just cater to tourists and office workers.

oh, and for those not familiar, here's a link to the company site:

http://www.americanapparelstore.com/

and an article about the founder:

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20050901/american-apparel.html

[Guest]

The founder is a bit of a whack job and like you say it is somewhat of a hipster store (a better fit might have been the gulch) but welcome to Nashville retail is retail and it is a giant step in the right direction.

[Nashvillain]

Wow, that's pretty crazy. Anyone who frequents Village Voice or Pitchforkmedia will be familiar with American Apparel. At first I thought it was a pretty cool "made in america, no sweatshops, fair wages, etc. (all stuff they advertise) basic indie chic type brand. Then all the stuff about the owner sleeping with his models and the overt amateur porn vibe of the advertisements made a lot of people think twice about the legitimacy of this brand. Interesting.

[ariesjow]

I really like American Apparel. I'm wearing a few items of theirs as I type this. This is definitely a step in the right direction for retail in Nashville. It's a very modern and trendy clothing store.

[urbanbna]

i agree, a step in the right direction, although it may not prosper, not enough people downtown, but that is fast changing,

[BnaBreaker]

Great news! Who cares about Gucci and Louis Vuitton? I suppose they can be seen as somewhat of a status symbol...but none of us normal folks would be able to shop there anyway. lol I like American Apparel. They are a company committed to investing in urban areas, and I see that as a good thing. Memphis just recently got one of these downtown as well.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Wow, that's pretty crazy. Anyone who frequents Village Voice or Pitchforkmedia will be familiar with American Apparel. At first I thought it was a pretty cool "made in america, no sweatshops, fair wages, etc. (all stuff they advertise) basic indie chic type brand. Then all the stuff about the owner sleeping with his models and the overt amateur porn vibe of the advertisements made a lot of people think twice about the legitimacy of this brand. Interesting.

Hey, what's wrong with good old fashioned sweatshops ?

[it's just dave]

Let's see, downtown we'll have Hustler Hollywood and American Apparel...and I still won't find have anything to wear. Rats. Back to TJMaxx for me. Ah, the perils of getting older. Anyway, thinking about the comments being made about the stores in Memphis and other places by the, yep, I'm just gonna say it, kids who love this store, this is definately a step in the right direction. Retail, especially on the level that doesn't involve that misplaced Texas/Okla mainstay, the cowboy boot, is certainly okay in my book.

I always thought the Dangerous Threads store on 2nd Avenue was a very cool place. It took the tourists off guard a bit at times with its less-than-conventional window dressing and stayed in business a long time. But it was before its time. Things are different now. Locals going downtown are different, and after my stint in tourism years, it's quite obvious the tourists are mostly different. Younger, hipper, trendier demographic is pouring into the area, and those folks along with us boomer types and empty nesters are the ones going to turn this place around retail wise eventually.

This is good news, I hadn't heard that. And the Global is one cool looking place at that, very modern, very nice. Could this be yet another signal to the slow de-proliferation of "souvenir/boot" shops that have been a mainstay for so long. We need some, but come on, enough is enough. I'm pleased.

[Lexy]

Awesome news. You should see the locations of some of their stores. Pretty hip 'hoods. I have been in the one in Ottawa, really hip and trendy inside.

[Lukin]

American apparal is great stuff...the ones in LA are all really nice and its becoming a very trendy/hip brand. next maybe we'll get an urbanoutfitters

[smeagolsfree]

There was also a Philly cheese place that has just opened next to the Acme building.

Does anyone have info on when Sullivans and Kansas City steakhouse is suppose to get started?