Shophound Out Of Town
Doughnut Plant, or How The Shophound Turned Into Homer Simpson

Same Old Bleecker Story: L'Uomo Ousted. Ralph to Move In

Luomobleecker_2
We can only greet this news with the opposite if surprise. As has been rumored for months, longtime Bleecker Street menswear retailer L'Uomo has been booted from the prime corner spot it has occupied for 25 years as a result of (what else?) a huge rent hike taking effect at the end of April. Ralph Lauren will be taking over the 1,600 square foot store which is right next to his teeny tiny men's store and across the street from his equally cramped women's unit. Telling a story familiar to shopkeepers all over Manhattan, L'Uomo owner Michael Adjiashvili told DNR, “They are paying $50,000 more per month than I am currently paying. We tried to renegotiate the lease but the landlord never gave us a choice." The Shophound would have bet on L'Uomo as the rare independent store whose upscale designer point of view and warm, laid back ambiance could have survived Bleecker's transformation as it seemed to appeal to the same customer as the boutiques that swept into the neighborhood. Apparently the recent economic downturn has so far had no effect on the rent hikes retailers in desirable locations are continuing to face.
Newluomo_2 There may be a silver lining in this cloud for L'Uomo. Rather than shutting down, the store will move to a larger space, the former Avalon Day Spa, at 271 West 4th Street that may attract more sophisticated customers tired of Bleecker Street's parade of tourists.
Ralph Lauren's organization has thus far had no comment on what sort of store will be installed in the space, though an expansion of one of his other three existing shops on the street would be likely.
Worst case scenario: Club Monaco, unless, of course, they manage to open a Ralph Lauren Bank.
Ralph to Take L’Uomo Space by Gillian Koenig (DNR)

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