Friday, July 22, 2022

[UPDATE] Louis Vuitton On The Move at Lenox Square, Aritzia Opening and More!

Louis Vuitton has temporarily moved to a smaller store at Lenox Square in Buckhead.  Previously located in a 10,000 square foot store within the mall's "Luxury Wing," the luxury retailer has relocated to the slightly smaller, roughly 8,200 square foot former Apple store on the mall's upper level.  The move was made to make way for what promises to be a complete renovation of the brand's Lenox Square boutique.  As of 5PM Thursday July 21, the retailer had not yet filed any permits for its buildout, so it's unclear what the scope or cost of the renovation will be.  

This is at least the fourth time that Louis Vuitton has either expanded and or completely renovated its Lenox Square boutique.  In late 2010, the brand doubled its size and debuted several new product categories including ready-to-wear and an expanded selection of handbags, among other things.  As of its 2010 debut, Louis Vuitton's Lenox Square boutique is categorized by parent company LVMH as "a global store," one of about a dozen in the company and one of the largest in the United States.  Sources close to the retailer tell ToNeTo Atlanta the Lenox Square boutique generates about $100 million in yearly sales.  The new store is expected to open Spring 2023.  

PacSun (Pacific Sunwear) is coming to Buckhead.  The new new store, the company's fourth location to open in metro Atlanta, is its first Inside the Perimeter (ITP).  According to a recently filed permit with the City of Atlanta, the new PacSun will open on Lenox Square's upper level in a roughly 4,200 square foot space.  The space the retailer will occupy was for many years home to The Limited but is currently occupied by trendy candy store It'Sugar.  It's unclear when It'Sugar will close or if it plans to relocate elsewhere in the mall.  Anaheim, California-based PacSun currently has existing Atlanta area locations at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Town Center at Cobb in Kennesaw and Mall of Georgia in Buford.   The brand in 2016 closed its store at the Shoppes at Webb Gin in Snellville.  In 2016, PacSun filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reorganized through a debt-for-equity restructuring agreement with private equity firm Golden Gate Capital, emerging as a privately owned company.   Before its filing, the company had about 600 stores whereas today they operate about 350, but are seemingly in growth mode once more.  According to the permit filed with the City of Atlanta, PacSun plans to spend an estimated $700,000 building out its space.  

Canadian women's apparel retailer Aritzia will make its Atlanta debut Friday July 22 at Lenox Square.  ToNeTo Atlanta was in December 2021 the first and only local media to report on the brand's planned Atlanta entry, which marks its second store in the southeast, joining one that opened in Nashville's The Mall at Green Hills this past November.  Aritiza's roughly 7,800 square foot store replaces The Gap, which closed in 2021 after what felt like forever in the mall.   

Elsewhere in the mall, Lacoste has reopened in its newly renovated store at the front of the mall, while in recent days Starbucks also reopened its cafe in the middle of the mall, after having been closed for about two years.  


Shake Shack, which seems ready to open any day now, remains "coming soon" in the Lenox Square "Dining Pavilion."  

As we have reported in recent weeks, Moose Knuckles, Savage X Fenty, Balenciaga, Tiffany & Co. and Ferrari are all expected to open in the mall later this fall.  In the case of Balenciaga and Tiffany & Co., the Lenox Square boutiques represent second stores in Buckhead for both brands with each operating an existing outpost in Phipps Plaza.  
Over at Phipps Plaza, Givenchy is adding its name to the growing roster of luxury labels opening boutiques in the posh property.  The LVMH-owned brand will open in suite 1050C, a roughly 2,600 square foot space most recently home to Lilly Pulitzer.  A permit filed with the City of Atlanta indicates that the company will spend an estimated $700,000 building out its space.  Givenchy's boutique will be across from where fellow luxury label Alexander McQueen is opening.  

ToNeTo Atlanta has reported in recent weeks on several luxury labels moving to or opening in Phipps Plaza including the aforementioned Alexander McQueen, Dior, Hermes, Byredo, AMIRI and Brunello Cucinelli with several others expected to follow suit in the coming months and years.  Nobu, which is bringing not only its famous sushi restaurant but also a 152 room hotel to the Phipps Plaza campus, is slated to open in late October, and is seen by many as the catalyst for the renewed luxury retail attraction to the mall.  

ToNeTo Atlanta made several attempts to elicit a response from Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza management regarding our report but was never supplied anything.  

Are you excited for the planned openings at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza?  What retailer or restaurant would you most like to see open in Lenox Square or Phipps Plaza?  What is your favorite mall in metro Atlanta?

Please share your thoughts below  

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hate to see what’s happening at Buckhead village, with all the stores departing. This area is a better shopping experience and has statistically experienced much less crime over the past two years than Lenox and Phipps. I have always felt safe there, while not at Lenox.

Anonymous said...

I hear ballistic glass is on backorder.

Anonymous said...

Why aren't more luxury stores opening in Buckhead Village? That area is a lot more posh and walkable, a bit of Rodeo drive in Atlanta. If they had more luxury stores it would have a lot more foot traffic.

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