Louis Vuitton’s Fifth Avenue flagship store may be covered in giant trunks, but it’s not yet packed.
On Friday, the luxury brand opened its new temporary location — its Fifth Avenue flagship, currently covered in scaffolding made to look like its iconic trunk, is undergoing a multi-year renovation project — and boasts its first coffee shop in the US.
But it’s not a makeshift backup. The five-story tempo store at 6 E. 57th St., across the street in the former Niketown, has already taken customers with it.
“It’s phenomenal,” Michelle Carter, 59, told The Post as she left the store carrying her new boots in orange shopping bags.
She and her girlfriends were some of the first people in the store when the doors opened Friday morning. The throng of women visiting the city from Texas already have plans to return over the weekend to do another shopping spree.
Michelle had been to the flagship store before it closed to the public, but said this temporary store “is a lot more elaborate”.
“There’s a lot more attention to detail. And it’s bigger,” she explained.
The size of the temporary store was something duly noted by the more astonished shoppers.
“I can’t believe how big it is,” Jordan Strong told The Post as he walked into the store with his wife Lisa, happily carrying her shopping bag.
He compared the store to a museum, explaining that the displays and layout of the place made it a “truly experiential” shopping trip.
The British tourist was almost convinced to buy a pair of bright yellow sneakers simply because they reminded him of a NY cab. Instead, Lisa finally bought the bag she had seen online.
“This is my first one and I think it’s great that we bought it in New York,” she said.
But the shop is far from a tourist trap.
Martin Yeo, a longtime Louis Vuitton loyal customer, purposely walked into the store on Friday morning dressed in the label from head to toe, ready to purchase some exclusive offerings only available at the pop-up and check out the new location .
“I didn’t think it would be this fabulous,” admitted the Manhattanite, “but I’m very impressed. This is so much better.”
This temporary location has only raised his expectations for the flagship location, which he has assured will be “even more amazing”.
“If this is not achieved, I will complain,” the 50-year-old said.
Now that he has his exclusive items in hand, he is ready to return in a few weeks for his reservation at Le Cafe Louis Vuitton, the first LV brand cafe in America.
The library-themed restaurant, on the fourth floor of the store above the women’s and men’s sections, located behind the chocolate shop, is managed by Starr Restaurants, led by restaurateur Stephen Starr of Pastis fame.
While it does not operate on the store’s opening day, it will welcome its first guests in November. 16 to a packed house. Reservations can be made in Resy, but are filled until December. 12 – as far as the website will allow you to search.
“You have to get your ass here,” Yeo insisted.
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Image Source : nypost.com