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Flagship Department Stores
Macy's Herald
Square, the world's largest department store, is one of
New York City's most famous retail icons and is renowned for
its annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. A highlight is The Cellar,
a gourmet paradise featuring everything from unique utensils
to creative takeout cuisine. With 10 floors and half a million
items for sale, it's a good idea for first-time shoppers to
head up to the Visitor's Center on the 34th Street balcony.
There, multilingual consultants not only provide guests with
information about the store, but can also help arrange theater
tickets, dinner reservations, sightseeing and more. Affectionately
known as "Bloomie's,"
Bloomingdale's
has been a Saturday afternoon "see-and-be-seen"
institution for decades. This East Side mecca's main floor
handbag department has one of the best selections in the city.
Visitors can find young designer favorites on the second floor,
and the tempting fourth floor shoe salon stocks many of the
models seen in fashion magazines. The store features an International
Services Desk/Visitor's Center on the 1st floor balcony, as
well as multilingual store directories, complimentary personal
shoppers, size conversion charts, visitor information, and
an ATM and currency exchanger. Thousands line up during the
holiday season to see the whimsical Christmas window displays
at
Lord
& Taylor. The renowned department store carries moderate
to upscale merchandise. Seasonal sales can net incredible
steals on men's and women's designer clothing, shoes, and
handbags.
Saks Fifth Avenue
opened its flagship store in 1924, a location now across the
street from Rockefeller Center (at the time midtown was "uptown"
and mainly a residential district). It has grown to operate
62 stores selling the finest in women's and men's designer
collections, sportswear, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, fragrances,
and jewelry.
Fifth Avenue
For many visitors, Fifth Avenue from 50th to 59th Street is
New York City's must-see shopping destination. Filled with
a mix of upscale boutiques, well-known chains, and attractions
like Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral, this
area is home to stores such as Tiffany & Co., Fortunoff, Piaget, and Wempe Jewelers; the most famous
toy store in the world, the flagship FAO Schwarz; the
Disney Store for classic Mickey memorabilia and more;
the NBA Store and NikeTown showcases for cool
athletic apparel. Finish up with a pampering beauty treatment
behind the famous Red Door at the Elizabeth
Arden Salon & Spa.
Madison Avenue
Manhattan's Gold Coast, which extends from 59th to 96th streets
and from the East River to Fifth Avenue, has designer stores
to match its reputation. Try Nicole Miller
and Burberry
for designer wear recognizable the world over. East meets
West at Shanghai Tang, a colorful
boutique offering a unique collection of contemporary fashions
for men, women, and children; gifts; and home accessories
with a twist of traditional Chinese color and design.
NYC has become home to the richest concentration of crystal
decorative objects and jewelry in the world: the Crystal
District. Baccarat, Daum, Lalique, Steuben,
and Swarovski are
all located along the five-block stretch of Madison Avenue
between 58th and 63rd Streets.
Times Square
The new Times Square has become a hub for attractions, accommodations,
restaurants, and stores like the new Toys R Us Times Square, which has an indoor 58-foot Ferris
wheel, two-story life-size Barbie dollhouse, kid-friendly
café, and more.
Grand Central Terminal
Grand
Central Terminal has always been a place to travel
through. But after a spectacular renovation and the opening
of the long-awaited Grand Central Market, this great New York
landmark has become a place to travel to. Reminiscent of a
European food hall, two dozen stalls along an elegant Main
Concourse corridor sell gourmet edibles for takeout or on-site
sampling. The many fine shops throughout the Terminal range
from national retailers to fine local merchants of European
chocolates, wines and spirits, elegant leather gloves and
lingerie.
SoHo
Within only a quarter of a square mile, SoHo has an estimated
250 art galleries, four museums, nearly 200 restaurants, and
100 stores. Robert Lee Morris has
jewelry as wearable art; Canal
Jean Company sells authenic Levi's, cutting-edge shoes,
and sportswear at discount prices; Vintage
New York features only wines and food from New York State;
The Scholastic
Store sells Scholastic brands — including Clifford
the Big Red Dog and Harry Potter — in an interactive, multimedia
environment.
Greenwich Village
In Greenwich Village you'll find all sorts of one-of-a-kind
items, including jewelry, accessories, trend-setting designer
outfits, and vintage wear.
The Lower East Side
The
Historic Orchard Street Shopping District consists of
Orchard, Grand, and Delancey Streets and their environs. The
first home of many of America's immigrants from Eastern Europe,
it's the place where bargains were invented. Today, you'll
find more than 400 unique shops and restaurants, with retail
including high-end European designer fashions, women's lingerie,
handbags, shoes, and family apparel at about 25 percent off
retail. The area is jammed on Sundays, since about half the
stores are closed on Saturdays to observe the Jewish Sabbath.
Lower Manhattan Century
21 is a department store that features amazing discounts
(25% to 75% off retail) on top designer clothing and other merchandise.
The South Street Seaport
is a thriving waterfront community complete with breathtaking
views of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge and more than
100 shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Harlem
Uptown in Harlem, homes and businesses are being renovated
and the economy is thriving. The center of Harlem's new Renaissance
is 125th Street. Harlem USA, a 285,000 square-foot retail
and entertainment complex is at the intersection of 125th
Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The Malcolm Shabazz Harlem
Market is an open air market selling African clothing,
instruments, and crafts.
Brooklyn
For 10,000-square-feet of in-season designer fashions for
women at discount prices, go to Aaron's.
Kleinfeld,
open since 1941, has the world's largest selection of exclusive
European and American designer wedding and evening gowns
in an elegant European setting.
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