Coach Bleecker Now Open

Coach has finally opened its umpteenth Manhattan store on Bleecker Street. The official opening is set for today, but the cheery staff unlocked the doors of the brightly lit shop for a preview yesterday, and by cheery we mean much more than the requisite "new store" level of enthusiasm. All of the employees we encountered were beaming like they'd just had a baby or something, which was endearing even if it made us wonder what they had all had for breakfast, or if, possibly they had been brainwashed by being forced to watch endless hours of Rachael Ray.
The Bleecker location is actually the first of the brand's new "Legacy" boutiques, featuring a more expensive and exclusive collection for those who would like to pay more for a brightly hued Coach bag. We noticed the difference immediately when we saw a $20,000 alligator hobo bag near the entrance. The special luxury line also includes numbered, limited edition pieces based on vintage Coach styles mostly falling in the $800 to $1,200 range as well as shoes, belts and small leather goods. Knitwear and outerwear are also featured, perhaps as a precursor to a full apparel line. The store is designed differently from the brand's typical shops, with more elaborate moldings and details. The 1,200 square foot space is actually two stores linked at the back by a small corridor creating a snaky U-shaped floor plan. There is also a new retro version of the brand's logo featured prominently with its border and carriage design instead of the sleeker font used more recently to update the company's image.
The store replaces the much loved Clary & Co. antique store that was forced out by a rent hike, much to the disappointment of neighbors and customers. To its credit, Coach has done a nice job of restoring the storefront's copper detailing. While Bleecker's many shoppers will doubtlessly be excited to see a shiny new store, we couldn't help noticing more than a few neighborhood types rolling their eyes and sighing at the continued mallification of their once quiet street.
Coach 372-374 Bleecker Street, West Village
Previously: Goodbye Clary & Co.: Coach to Officially Transform Bleecker Into a Mall