General Growth Properties yesterday (Tuesday) signed a lease with luxury branch Coach to open a flagship 23,000 s/f store at 685 Fifth Avenue.
CEO Sandeep Mathrani’s announced the deal during a quarterly earnings conference call.
Coach said the opening of a Fifth Avenue flagship was timed to coincide with the brand’s 75th Anniversary.
Victor Luis, chief executive officer of Coach, Inc., said, “Our intention is to create a true Coach House, celebrating Coach’s heritage and history of craftsmanship.
“With a bespoke façade and modern luxury interior, it will provide an appropriate showcase for the full expression of our women’s and men’s Collections including bags, small leather goods, footwear, and ready-to-wear, in addition to offering a full range of customization and leather services.
“We will also be opening a separate adjacent Stuart Weitzman flagship store, bringing the two brands’ stores to one iconic location.”
The retail space dedicated to the Coach brand will be designed by executive creative director Stuart Vevers in partnership with William Sofield, designer and president of Studio Sofield.
It will include a shopping salon and Craftsmanship Bar. Throughout the three-level flagship will be a mix of custom-designed cabinetry with vintage and bespoke furniture and objects.
General Growth owns 685 Fifth with Joseph Sitt’s Thor Equities LLC. The partnership paid $460 million in 2014 for the 140,000 s/f building.
