SouthPark Mall

[Manolos]

Pray that Charlotte is on Armani's mind. Armani is currently beginning a huge expansion in the US/Japan/Italy and UK, and are expanding all 3 store concepts throughout the US.

[moving uptown]

Pray that Charlotte is on Armani's mind. Armani is currently beginning a huge expansion in the US/Japan/Italy and UK, and are expanding all 3 store concepts throughout the US.

i cant imagine a market like charlotte would not be on their mind for the a/x brand. in the midst of a large expansion, we should be up near the top

[brokenraven]

I would trade all the stores at South Park for one Marc Jacobs.

[Manolos]

i cant imagine a market like charlotte would not be on their mind for the a/x brand. in the midst of a large expansion, we should be up near the top

Well, yes Charlotte is high up for A/X, im sure, but I was more making a reference to the above comment on Emporio Armani. Sure, an A/X is always nice, and Emporio would be nicer.

[StevenRocks]

It's always the stores usually near Middle-end department stores that are always opening and closing...has anyone else noticed that? Before Express was next to Dillard's i think that was like Julie's and then before that was something else...

Julie's was (I think) near where Guess is now. The Express space next to Dillard's was St. John for years, and La Vogue before that.

[Kenneth Disraili-Jean]

Well, yes Charlotte is high up for A/X, im sure, but I was more making a reference to the above comment on Emporio Armani. Sure, an A/X is always nice, and Emporio would be nicer.

Someone said that A/X is like a glorified Gap, go figure.

Julie's was (I think) near where Guess is now. The Express space next to Dillard's was St. John for years, and La Vogue before that.

Where is St. John now??

[Manolos]

A/X imo is similar to a cross between Banana and Club Monaco, don't find it that special.

St Johns, last time I was there, was across from Burberry.

[Kenneth Disraili-Jean]

A/X imo is similar to a cross between Banana and Club Monaco, don't find it that special.

St Johns, last time I was there, was across from Burberry.

I agree Manolos, the price points are probably very comparable, and thanks for the tip on St. John

[juniper]

I agree Manolos, the price points are probably very comparable, and thanks for the tip on St. John

A/X is very much a glorified version of the Gap. The designs are horrible -- everything has a/x plastered all over it -- and the quality is crap. Armani has nothing to do with the line except lending his name to it. Though we do get a couple people a month asking if we carry it at NM.

[StevenRocks]

Where is St. John now??

St. John has one of the best locations in the mall, in the court that intersects the corridors to Belk, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. It's a decent-sized store, too.

[Temeteron]

A/X is very much a glorified version of the Gap. The designs are horrible -- everything has a/x plastered all over it -- and the quality is crap. Armani has nothing to do with the line except lending his name to it. Though we do get a couple people a month asking if we carry it at NM.

Um A/X has nothing to do with GAP....no similarities whatsoever! A/X is waaay more trendy, and its very Europeanish....and not expensive!

Edited June 3, 2007 by Temeteron

[atlrvr]

I think he meant that A/X clothing cuts are very "generic", that they flash their logo across the chest, and that it is made in sweatshops in Asia.....which is just what GAP does....I don't think he meant they were owned by GAP or styled similaraly to GAP.....

I think for the price point, French Connection or Club Monaco are better choices...maybe not much better quality or cuts, but at least they don't advertise being the lowest quality line from their namesake.

[Manolos]

I find Club Monaco styles much more appealing and the quality of clothes much nicer. Similarly, they have no monogrammed logo slapped all over their clothes, which is the big plus. Surprised Club Monaco isn't on anyones wish list here

[juniper]

I think he meant that A/X clothing cuts are very "generic", that they flash their logo across the chest, and that it is made in sweatshops in Asia.....which is just what GAP does....I don't think he meant they were owned by GAP or styled similaraly to GAP.....

Yeah, that's what I meant of course. A/X is not appealing at all. No one looks at A/X and thinks "European and sophisticated."

[JerseyBoy]

I personally like some of their (A{sodEmoji.|}X's) styles and own several shirts from them but it's just a bunch of marked up cheaply made shirts if you ask me.

[StevenRocks]

Surprised Club Monaco isn't on anyones wish list here

I don't know of Club Monaco opening any new stores in the last few years. That could be the reason.

[nyxmike]

A/X does have some nice stuff from time to time. You just have to be picky, like with any store. Just because it is from *insert store name here* doesn't mean it is "nice". I think a Metropark store would be cool. I went to the one in Atlanta and I liked it. They just opened one in Austin, TX which is comparable to Charlotte. Diesel would actually be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.

Edited June 4, 2007 by nyxmike

[Manolos]

I don't know of Club Monaco opening any new stores in the last few years. That could be the reason.

Club Monaco opened a number of stores this past year, including Philly, San Francisco, New York, Troy. There were more worldwide openings.

^^Don't think Diesel would be out of the picture, but haven't seen them open that many US stores in awhile.

Edited June 4, 2007 by Manolos

[nyxmike]

Diesel just opened in Austin, TX and they are opening a store in Atlanta. They are definately expanding, but I am sure they are picky about where.

[uptownliving]

CBJ reports that H&M is scouting for a NC store. Is their space for one at SouthPark?

[jednc]

CBJ reports that H&M is scouting for a NC store. Is their space for one at SouthPark?

I'd really like to see this go Uptown...

[Version70-8]

I'd really like to see this go Uptown...

H&M stores are quite large in size, close to the size of a department store so it wouldn't fit at Southpark since there aren't any spaces that large open.

Who knows where a store like that would be able to find a suitable spot?

[Miesian Corners]

There are H&M stores of all sizes. Most in European cities are about equal to a large Gap or Banana Republic.

[Manolos]

They aren't really the size of a department store....that would be over 100k square feet. Most H&Ms I've seen are roughly 8000-12000 square feet. Still, I dont think theres a vacancy that large at SouthPark.

[Temeteron]

unless Express closes.....or they shuffle some stores around......why not open downtown or at NL though?