Over the past year, Philadelphia's shopping scene has gained some serious momentum and it’s not slowing down this fall with openings including The Conversion Shop (shown here) in Old City. (Photo by Michael Anthony Murphy)
Philadelphia's shopping scene continues to grow this autumn with the expansion of both independently owned and operated spots and larger nationwide stores. In the past year, Center City in particular has experienced growth in high-low retail.
On Rittenhouse Square, Barney's Co-op turned into a Barney's. Nearby, new outposts of Uniqlo and Nordstrom Rack drew in discount shoppers, not too far from a Bloomingdale's, The Outlet Store, planned for December.
This fall saw openings of urban locations for Shop Sixty Five and Skirt, two well-known shops from the suburbs, while Canadian technical cashmere designer Kit and Ace will launch a bricks-and-mortar location in Fishtown.
Check out more on some of Philadelphia's newest retail therapy opportunities.
JUST OPENED
Skirt
Main Line mainstay Skirt, Maureen Doron's beloved boutique in suburban Wayne recently brought ladylike elegance to Rittenhouse Square with its city satellite shop. A black-and-white striped awning, topiaries, Hygge West gold scroll wallpaper and chandeliers set off sought-after women's pieces by DVF, Vince, Theory, Scoop, Zimmermann, FWRD by Elyse Walker and Zadig & Voltaire.
Where: 212 S. 17th Street
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Shop Sixty Five
Linda LaRosa traded her career as an editor and stylist for Harper's Bazaar and Entertainment Weekly to open designer-minded Shop Sixty Five outside of Philadelphia. In September, LaRosa relocated her suburban operations to Rittenhouse Square. The airy space displays pieces by brands like Haute Hippie, IRO, Rebecca Taylor, Sigerson Morrison and Citizens of Humanity.
Where: 1921 Walnut Street
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The Conversion Shop
Hinted at only via Instagram, The Conversion Shop opened on Old City's main drag in mid-September with a rustic, nostalgic menagerie of furnishings and home accessories. Custom-made repurposed wooden tables, benches and shelving, distressed vintage dressers and trunks, are both for sale and for display of graphic tea towels and dishes, bright candles, beeswax soaps and more American-made housewares.
Where: 38 S. 3rd Street
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Now open, Skirt boutique in Rittenhouse offers an approachable team of a half-dozen personal stylists to consult individually with shoppers. (Photo courtesy Skirt)
More new shopping in Philadelphia, below.
Blokes Barbershop and Gentleman’s Emporium
Used to be when a guy needed grooming accessories, a shave or a haircut, he had to choose: Book an appointment at a unisex salon or take his chances at a grandfatherly barbershop. That's not the case anymore for guys in Philly. These days, brand-new Old City shop Blokes Barbershop supplies dapper dudes with high-quality accessories and grooming, including straight-razor shaves and barber services.
Where: 151 N. 3rd Street
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Rikumo
For the past decade, Kaz and Yuka Morihata have built a design-minded following for the products they import from Japan. This fall, the couple moved operations from a modest storefront in the city's Spring Garden section to a concept store in Center City four times the first shop's size. There, Rikumo still sells its signature lightweight bath towels, charcoal beauty products, cozy Sasawashi shoes and Tarala ceramics.
Where: 1215 Walnut Street
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The Shade Store
The New York-based window-covering designer laid down Philly roots in late summer, offering 11 varieties of treatments and more than 900 subtle to statement-making fabrics and materials. The 2,000-square-foot showroom's interactive displays let customers compare Roman to solar, roller to cellular, solar to pleated shades, while getting smart design direction from staff.
Where: 1725 Chestnut Street
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This November, Bloomingdale’s, The Outlet will open at the Shops at Liberty Place. (Image via The Shops at Liberty Place)
COMING SOON
Bloomingdale's, The Outlet Store
Center City's iconic Liberty One Place tower plans to welcome a sizeable tenant when Bloomingdale's, The Outlet Store opens in December. The second-floor storeall 22,700 square feet of itwill be the region's first. Designer merchandise, discounted by 20% to 70%, will include women's ready-to-wear apparel, men's wear, children's wear and home.
When: December 2015
Where: 1625 Chestnut Street, 2nd floor
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Kit and Ace
In November, a former warehouse becomes the first Philly location of Kit and Ace. Co-owners Shannon and JJ Wilson have been growing their Vancouver-based business quickly and internationally, opening more than 30 locations in the past 14 months. This summer, they tested Philadelphia's waters in an Old City pop-up shop inside Meadowsweet Mercantile, while building out a permanent location in the city's Fishtown neighborhood. Like every Kit and Ace, this one will feature comfortable, modern men's and women's separates, starring pieces in coveted, machine-washable Technical Cashmere.
When: November 2015
Where: 1424-32 Frankford Avenue
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Target is finally coming to downtown Philadelphia next year with two boutique-sized stores meant to serve Philly's continuing surge in residents and visitors. (Image via Target)
Select Shop 215
Select Shop 215 opens in early November in Old City with a carefully curated selection of men's and women's accessories and apothecary and home goodsall with an emphasis on clever design and quality materials. With a considerably larger retail space, Select Shop 215 will feature bestsellers and customer favorites of sister boutique Omoi Zakka Shop while expanding into home and lifestyle pieces by emerging designers and Pennsylvania-based makers. Omoi Zakka Shop will continue as an off-Rittenhouse destination for gifts, personal treats and cult status stationery from around the world.
When: November 2015
Where: 41 S. 3rd Street
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Target
First, we heard the news that Center City would be getting its first Target store in summer 2016, and we rejoiced. Then, Target announced that it will open a second, urban-focused store at 12th and Chestnut in the Center City's vibrant Midtown Village neighborhood and just a block from Market East. The second store is also aiming for a July 2016 opening, and we can’t wait.
When: 2016
Where: 19th and Chestnut and 12th and Chestnut
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