Retailers often overuse the term “flagship” by assigning the designation to many of their stores undeservedly. Not so with J.McLaughlin, the classic all-American sportswear retailer known for its signature prints.
“We have one flagship — our store on Madison Avenue between 92nd and 93rd Streets. It feels like home. It’s one of our original stores,” said Mary Ellen Coyne, chief executive officer of the 43-year-old, 155-unit, Brooklyn-based company.
The two-level, 1,600-square-foot store is situated in a town house. It reopened last Friday after six months of renovation, creating a fresher, updated and more spacious ambience. “We’ve given the store a whole new look,” Coyne said. “It really needed an overhaul, top to bottom. We redid everything.”
“We have one flagship — our store on Madison Avenue between 92nd and 93rd Streets. It feels like home. It’s one of our original stores,” said Mary Ellen Coyne, chief executive officer of the 43-year-old, 155-unit, Brooklyn-based company.
The two-level, 1,600-square-foot store is situated in a town house. It reopened last Friday after six months of renovation, creating a fresher, updated and more spacious ambience. “We’ve given the store a whole new look,” Coyne said. “It really needed an overhaul, top to bottom. We redid everything.”
J.McLaughlin’s renovated flagship.
An awkward set of interior steps in the front of the store was eliminated, leveling off the first floor. “The store feels very open now. It’s very airy and you can see from the front to the back,” Coyne said.
There’s also a new storefront. The curved window was removed and replaced by a more elegant steel, glass and limestone facade.
In addition, the second floor was expanded to include men’s and women’s merchandise. Before, it just had men’s.
Throughout, “There’s a very clean, neutral palette — much