Would Bed Stuy Benefit from Luxury Bed / Bath Store?
Hi Brownstoners, My husband and I live in Bed Stuy on Halsey Street and are tossing around the idea of opening up a luxury bed and bath linen store somewhere in the neighborhood. We are thinking of offering designers like Frette, Sferra Brothers as well as lesser known brands that offer Egyptian Cotton sheets with…
Hi Brownstoners,
My husband and I live in Bed Stuy on Halsey Street and are tossing around the idea of opening up a luxury bed and bath linen store somewhere in the neighborhood. We are thinking of offering designers like Frette, Sferra Brothers as well as lesser known brands that offer Egyptian Cotton sheets with high thread count at slightly discounted prices. My question is, would our neighborhood benefit from having this business? I’m not even sure of having a retail space, I may just advertise on this site to the right and take orders from a home office.
What do you think? Honest opinions are appreciated…even if you think this idea would not work.
Thanks, Brownstoners.
I just moved in to Bed Stuy from Mnhattan a few months ago….bought a brownstone. Ive also been thinking of how could invest some money in a retail business there. I’m concerned because I don’t see a lot of crowded nights in the three higher end dining establishment…Bassam, Brooks Valley and Solomon’s Porch; although Solomon’s does get some very crowded nights.
I was thinking along the lines of “what does the neighborhood need” and have come up more along the lines of a hgher end food/meat/produce outlet. Manhattan literally supports two small grocers on a block but the hi rise density is higher there. The Food Town actually has a fantastic offering of everything so I’m not sure yet what will work
An more thoughts out there on this???? I’m looking for a partner on something and I can be the financial backing.
11:49, PLG ex-art gallery owner here. You are talking about Lawrence Dorsey! Dorsey ran a framing business and gallery in the PLG community which he grew over the into a true arts institution. When Dorsey would have an exhibition opening, it was always more like a family party. Tons of people, food and drink and lots of great spirit. At Dorsey’s you would never encounter the kind of snobbery and forced pretentiousness that is too often the norm in the NYC art scene. He was a master framer and gallerist who will definitely be missed! For more about Dorsey and his gallery, check out this link: http://www.newsday.com/news/obituaries/ny-nydors145412385oct14,0,1767253.story
I suggest you open a supermarket.
4:06 here.
I love your idea. Feel free to contact me. design@hmia.net We could exchange ideas more freely.
OP here again,
4:06 – thank you for your comment and Carole’s Daughter example, very inspirational as I remember her store on Dekalb and now I see her products in Sephora.
I should have been a little bit more clear on the “luxury” front – I am a firm believer that we are all entitled to a little luxury from time to time as we work so hard for our money. That being said, luxury is different for everyone – for some it does mean sleeping on $500 sheets but for me, one of my favorite luxury indulgences is a $12 bar of soap from Takashimaya. My point is that luxury does not have to cost a lot of money. $12 is a lot of money for a bar of soap but that’s what you spend on two cups of coffee these days unfortunately so it doesn’t have to break the bank.
You guys are all so wonderful and giving in your opinions and advice. I promise I won’t let you down when I open up and I will re-post closer to our “grand opening” to gather email addresses so I can send everyone invitations to join us for another little luxury, a glass or two of wine after a long day at work and you can walk through and see and touch everything that I will have to offer. I’m so excited:)
In the mean time, please continue to post what you think we need like 10:34 suggesting workshops (thanks HomeSweetStuy). I want to be the weekend destination for Brownstone Brooklyn!!!
i’m very excited about your idea. i think it if you can incorporate bath products, that would be great. in bed stuy, you’ll be the only store offering luxury bed and bath drawing your bed stuy, clinton hill, fort greene (and other brooklyn neighbors), eventually you may become a true destination. hey, people travel from all over to aj madison for appliances.
I am a designer of High End Residential Interiors. A High End Bed and Bath Shop will be difficult anywhere park slope, brooklyn heights, dumbo, tribeca, soho,… you get the picture.
In my opinion, you should build a strong client base first then open your shop. And because it would be difficult anywhere, why not open in Bedstuy? your overhead would be much lower. I live in Bedstuy and Love it.
Carole’s Daughter started from her home and Bedstuy and it grew into a very profitable national business – That is to say that you can do it, but do not delude yourself – even the well monied is loathe to spend large amounts on certain items therefore variety would be key in both the merchandise selection and the range of “luxury” price points. It is always best to ‘handle’ these items that way you hook folks.
For homework, take a 1st hand look at theses stores that do Luxury Bed and Bath Very well:
ABC Home 5th Floor
Calypso Home on Lafayette Street
And yes the neighborhood would benefit from it.In any case best of Luck and Skill to you. I’ll keep an eye out for your ad and or grand opening.
Thank you, to the PLG former gallery owner, for sharing his story. Very interesting!
There was a famous gallery owner with his longtime gallery on Rogers in PLG who was an early champion of now world famous African American painters, who died recently. You must have known him.
It would be wonderful to have a store in to browse and dream in — some place to indulge yourself when the renovation gets too much. Even better to have a store that stocks things that Bstone owners need–mouldings, tin ceilings, cool fixtures, how to books—maybe even have a support group and workshop (for paint stripping..?)—ok now I probably am dreaming