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It’s official: the space formerly home to Dr. Mojoe has a new retail tenant. National Jean Company is scheduled to open at 761 N. High St. in early April.
The store −a partnership between local investors and National Jean Company President and Founder Jimmy Gurrieri− will be the chain’s 12th location and its first in the Midwest.
“Columbus, specifically the downtown area, has always been an interest to the company because of the demographic mix, the surrounding towns the area pulls from. It’s a great customer blend,” says Helen Kim, director of operations for National Jean Company.
In addition to “a well-edited selection of premium denim” for women, the 2,000-square foot Columbus store will carry tees, tank tops, leggings, dresses, shoes, and accessories, she says.
“We set our stores up to be a well-edited closet of sorts; it’s everything you’ll need for each season, for a night out, comfy clothes to lounge in, something fantastic that you’re dying for when you’re in need of a little retail therapy, plus fun, easy accessories,” she explains. “It’s everything from wardrobe staples to fashion-forward pieces.”
At any given time, the store will carry 10 to 15 denim labels, including J Brand, Joe’s Jeans, AG Jeans, 7 For All Mankind, and Paige Premium Denim.
“Our denim [prices] will range anywhere from $110 to $250 in general. Our basic tees, tanks and leggings, for the most part, are $20 and up. And our clothing components are anywhere from $48 to $250,” Kim says.
Denim sizes will range from 24 to 32; the rest of the store’s clothing will be available in extra small, small, medium, and large sizes. Shoes will be available in sizes five through 10.
What separates National Jean Company from other clothing stores is its business approach, Kim says.
“It’s all the details of how we run our business and everything we’ve learned for the past 18 years,” she adds. “We are careful and smart about the way we buy. We spend a lot of time analyzing our past and current business, and focus a lot on forecasting important upcoming trends.
“Also, just as important as the effort we put into selecting our product is the effort we put into customer service. Shopping should be fun and easy. Our staff is there to build relationships with their customers, to help dress them, fit them.
“The relationship doesn’t stop when the customer leaves the store; the relationship is a continuing process, as any friendship is. It’s about being knowledgeable, nice, welcoming, and having a comfortable atmosphere. We only invite people to join our staff that will genuinely care about our customers and our stores.”
As far as National Jean Company’s neighborhood competitor − Voodoo Denim Lounge, which is expected to open in mid-March at 780 N. High St. − is concerned, Kim had this to say:
“It’s difficult to comment on a business that doesn’t exist yet. People know what we’re about. We’ve been around for 18 years, going on our 19th. We focus on our business and what we can do better. We pay attention to our customers and what we can do to make their shopping experience better. I wish the owner, or owners, of Voodoo Denim Lounge the best of luck. I hope everything works out for them.”
Perhaps more importantly, National Jean Company is excited to be setting up shop in the Short North.
“We really love the vibe of the location and the mix of stores, and I can’t wait to experience my first Gallery Hop!” Kim says.
To shop National Jean Company’s online store, visit NationalJeanCompany.com.
Wait, i was really excited, but I dont’ think they sell guys jeans …. did I miss that?
“The store… will be the chain’s 12th location and its first in the Midwest.”
“Denim sizes will range from 24 to 32; the rest of the store’s clothing will be available in extra small, small, medium, and large sizes.”
Prediction: sizes greater than 32 and some XLs once they’ve opened. ;-)
Glad to see them here.
So now there is going to be two new jean companies across the street from each other. Vodoo Demin Lounge and now these guys. Thats alot of jeans for one neighborhood.
@Bear – lol
VicVillage Guy Says: Thats alot of jeans for one neighborhood.
Is there anything preventing people from shopping in the Short North who live in other parts of town?
@Walker.
Of course not but I feel like they could hurt each others business. But I guess choices and variety never hurt anyone. It will be good for consumers but maybe not so much for the business owners.
This feels like a real Dispatch comment section, woooo!
I’m failing to see the lol here. Is there something amusing about women who wear a size larger than a 32 wanting to shop here?
“for women”
I actually think concentrating high quality jeans in one location isn’t such a bad thing. If you’re out with the purpose to buy jeans, it’ll be great to shop around one location to get them, rather than drive around the entire city.
but still …. why wouldn’t this place sell guys jeans? they’re already going for the niche of upscale jean store … why limit your clients even more to only women?
More options for Columbus and the Short North, sweet success!. If the company truly knows its market and how to control inventory, hopefully they will be around to stay. Maybe the Voodoo denim place will include mens clothing!
Thanks for the inside scoop Walker, I know it was hard keeping closed lips, as we ranted about Dr. MoJoe and all its drama. lol
VicVillage Guy: Or the SN just becomes the place to buy jeans.
KSquared — not at all.
I actually missed the “for women” part on first read, despite surber17 flagging it… not enough coffee. Which made that size 32 seem even more restrictive than it is.
columbusyuppie Says: Thanks for the inside scoop Walker…
Don’t thank me! I didn’t write this article! ;)
Seems kind of super exlcusive to me.. with the size limits and the high prices of denim.. are we really in a time when people can afford to spend $110 to $250 on a pair of jeans.. Those jeans better last at least 5 years.. or look good with patches..
What kind of vibe is the SN going for these days? I can’t really tell anymore.
@ksquared – my thoughts exactly. a 32 is about a misses 8, depending on the cut. That is a pretty narrow size range. Even the limited stores go up to 16. And for many stores like this (generalizing, assuming from stores like American Apparel), the “large” is really more of a smallish medium for a store catering to misses. So basically this is a store for juniors.
At any rate, I see just as many men as women wearing stylin’ jeans in this city – if not more – so they aren’t smart for neglecting the men, and the Voodoo Denim Lounge would be brilliant for simply carrying a fuller range of sizes and lots of mens’ styles. National Jean Company kinda just wrote their business plan for them! ha!
32 is the waist size – a 32 waist is actually closer to a size 12…at least, what used to be a size 12. Women’s clothes (particularly cheaper brands) are made quite a bit bigger than they were even just a few years ago. At any rate, the jean brands mentioned don’t really come any bigger than 32 or 33 (from what I’ve seen in stores or online) so it would be difficult for them to sell larger sizes if they want to stick to higher quality, designer brands.
Well, premium denim places do seem, I think, to carry a narrower size range than other stores. I have been able to find sizes online that aren’t carried in stores (not sure at all about these, since they’re women’s). A lot of them lose my business (this one apparently will, on two counts!) I’m not offended, maybe I’m a small enough demographic that they don’t want to spend the shelf space on me. But maybe it’s not a very smart business decision. I really don’t know.
I’m not their target client, and I’m not offended that they don’t carry sizes larger than a 32. I understand that “premium” demin is targeted to a certain demographic, and I guess they have done their research, but I have to think they are missing out on some sales. I’m not, however, sold on the idea that the cost to quality relationship is linear, which is the major reason why I am not their target customer and I personally don’t care what they carry. Others do though, and I just did not understand why people who are larger than a certain size being able to shop there warranted a “lol”.