On Friday, a new two-story Anthropologie store opened in the Short North, marking the entry of one of the first national retail brands to enter the district that is primarily populated with local and regional businesses. While pricier boutiques have long been a part of the Short North shopping experience, national brands have been kept at bay partly due to a lack of larger spaces that are more ideal for a bigger store footprint.
“My initial instinct is that chain retailers don’t belong in the Short North, for fear that it could change the entire vibe of the neighborhood and hurt the business of the small-scale vendors on which the area prides itself,” said Ashley Wills of StyleOnHigh.com. “However, the addition of Anthropologie, which has such a unique, hand-crafted feel, seems to blend really well with surrounding stores. I can see many chains amplifying and strengthening the neighborhood by offering variety.”
That local/national mix could be changing soon with the addition of brand new retail spaces in new apartment developments planned on High Street over the next year. Nearly 25,000 square feet of new retail space will be coming available through four planned developments at the Donatos building, The Brunner, The Fireproof, and the Ibel Building. Another large 3,200 square foot space also just became available with the closure of Cup O Joe on The Cap.
With rental rates rising, and brand new Class A retail space being constructed, it’s more likely that national brands will have the ability to bankroll new stores rather than startups and smaller boutiques. When we reached out to several local fashion writers, bloggers and trend-watchers, we received a positive response about the idea of adding more chain stores to the mix.
“Columbus is home to many fashion companies — we are a fashion destination and everyone is looking for the latest in apparel and accessories,” said Gwendolyne Rodriguez, Publisher of Cbus Chic. “As we continue to support our local boutiques in the Short North, some chains could be a welcome addition.”
The one store that was top of mind for everyone interviewed was Zara. The Spanish company is the world’s largest apparel retailer, but completely lacks an Ohio presence. The nearest stores are located in Chicago, and with the average store size ranging from 10,000-to-12,000 square feet, it could be a good fit for one of the new spaces in the neighborhood.
“I am dying for Zara to come to Columbus – their price points and style are perfect for the Short North,” said Amanda Hamman of Girl About Columbus. “Free People would also be a good fit because they are most definitely indie and unique. And since Columbusites wear boots for a good portion of the year, I would welcome a solid shoe brand such as Frye.”
Some of the other national chains recommended as good fits include Madewell, Top Shop, Alice & Olivia, Opening Ceremony and Sephora. A special mention was also made of a Victoria’s Secret PINK store, which carries a line of casual apparel targeted at a younger demographic of college and post-college women. The average Victoria’s Secret store is 6,000 square feet, but the PINK brand typically runs closer to 4,000 square feet in size.
Jenna Laird of ShesJustSmitten.com said that with many Short North residents being well-dressed and health-conscious, she thinks that retailers with that type of focus would perform well with stores in the area.
“I would love to see a Lululemon or Club Monaco in the Short North,” she said. “It’s common to see bigger stores in the mix in city ranging from Chicago to Charleston. With all of the great yoga and fitness studios in the area, a Lululemon would be a perfect fit.”
That idea would not be far-fetched as Lululemon opened a test store concept in The Dakota building in 2008 that operated during select hours and offered pilates and yoga classes in addition to selling their line of workout apparel. Currently the brand only has Easton and Polaris stores.
The other major national retailer that has found success in the Short North is American Apparel, which opened their first regional store at Fifth and High nearly a decade ago. It’s also worth noting that many national brands can be found inside independent local retailers already. Shops like Tigertree, Milk Bar and Rowe Boutique are well known for their variety of national brands.
“We have no problem finding unique designs from local boutiques, but what we don’t have is ‘basic’ wear,” said Katya Grishanova, who maintains a personal fashion blog at KatyaGrishanova.com. “That’s why I would like to see Uniqlo in The Short North. You can find great basics there in any color.”
Liz at MrsLadyLike.com said that she often hears that men’s clothing options are hard to find in the Short North, which she thinks could be addressed with a Bonobos “Guideshop”, which operates as a cross between a personal shopping experience and a brick-and-mortar retail store.
“It’s a great shop for men’s clothing that features classic pieces with a twist of hipster, which is what the Short North is primarily comprised of,” she said. “It also has a classic boutique feel, and it would be a great pop-in shop for men that don’t want to spend a huge amount on clothes, yet still get a nice looking high quality item.”
Regardless of what the future may hold for shopping options in the Short North, one thing certainly holds true today: without the ability to shop at national retail brands, inner-city residents are left only with the option to drive to Easton Town Center, Polaris Fashion Place or other suburban shopping centers to find specific stores.
“I think having access to hard-to-find chains would bring tourism to the Short North and ultimately bring more foot traffic to the locally-owned stores,” concluded Willis. “They would also fit in with the high-fashion aesthetic that Short North shoppers love.”