The J. Crew men's concept store on the Bowery has closed

After nearly 15 months on the SW corner of the Bowery and Bleecker, the bespoke J. Crew men's shop has closed... [Update: Sources said that this was only supposed to be a short-term deal.]

The shop arrived to lots of hoopla in September 2022, ushering in a new era for the brand. In 2021, J. Crew hired Brendon Babenzien — former Supreme design director — to be the creative director. He debuted/celebrated his first collection in September 2022 at a party at Jean's on Lafayette, featuring a 7-song set by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  

Per J. Crew at the time, this location was "a new men’s concept store featuring a curated collection of J.Crew menswear, vintage finds including art and furniture, plus coffee from Urban Backyard." 

There were signs of trouble in August when the store was closed for several weeks due to "technical difficulties" (no customers?). The space eventually reopened, though without the coffee service. (Anyway, Think Coffee is right across Bleecker.)

A lot of money went into renovating this space (not including the 24/7 security detail hired to prevent people from tagging the 316 Bowery storefront) that had been a string of restaurants through the years, most recently Saxon + Parole.

Meanwhile, it's not all bad news for the brand: a J. Crew is opening nearby on Bond and Lafayette this year. 

Noted

Updated 9/2: The shop is back open.

A few readers have noted that the J.Crew Men's Shop is currently — and temporarily! — closed for unspecified reasons on the Bowery at Bleecker...

This comes about 11 months after the brand made its debut in this long-vacant retail space.

J. Crew signage official a day before its grand opening on the Bowery

Updated 9/13:  From J. Crew:  This is "a new men’s concept store featuring a curated collection of J.Crew menswear, vintage finds including art and furniture, plus coffee from Urban Backyard." 

-----

 The JC signage went up Friday here at 316 Bowery at Bleecker...

... ahead of the grand opening of a new men's concept tomorrow...

As previously noted, the storefront will be selling coffee-espresso drinks (Think Coffee across the street must love this!) ... and there looks to be space for sidewalk seating.

There's also speculation, via Gear Patrol, that this will be a J. Crew Liquor Store redux. That was the brand's "clubby boutique" in an old liquor store in Tribeca from 2008-2019. 

Also from Gear Patrol: "Even if J.Crew doesn't use the basement, the ground level is still over 3,000 square feet, making this, at least to my knowledge, the biggest dedicated J.Crew Men's Shop in New York City, if not the U.S."

Last year, JC hired Brendon Babenzien — former Supreme design director — to be the creative director of J.Crew Men's. He debuted/celebrated his first collection last week at a party at Jean's, an opening-soon restaurant via the owners of Superiority Burger and Williamsburg Pizza in the former Butter space on Lafayette that featured a 7-song set by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  

After filing for Chapter 11 in May 2020, J. Crew exited bankruptcy that fall. Per Retail Dive:

Lenders have taken over controlling ownership after a federal bankruptcy court approved J. Crew's reorganization plan. That deal left investment firm Anchorage Capital Group as the retailer's current majority owner. Kevin Ulrich, Anchorage's CEO, said in the release that his firm sees "an immense opportunity for growth and expansion at each brand," which includes the J. Crew and Madewell banners.

J. Crew confirmed for the Bowery; opening scheduled on Sept. 13

A J. Crew men's shop is opening at 316 Bowery on Sept. 13... the location arrived over the weekend on the brand's website... 

As previously reported, renovations have been quickly taking place inside the former restaurant space in recent weeks.

A Bowery Boogie informant first heard that a J. Crew was in the works, though there hadn't been anything official from the company about the new location here at Bleecker. 

In addition, contractors at the scene professed to not know anything about who the tenant was. Meanwhile, other tipsters came forward, stating that this will be a JPress outpost (not true, the brand said) or a Rowing Blazers shop (also not true — they are opening at 8 Rivington St. on Thursday).

As these interior photos by EVG contributor Stacie Joy from late last week show, the shop will apparently offer a coffee service... as seen on the front counter...

After filing for Chapter 11 in May 2020, J. Crew exited bankruptcy that fall. Per Retail Dive:

Lenders have taken over controlling ownership after a federal bankruptcy court approved J. Crew's reorganization plan. That deal left investment firm Anchorage Capital Group as the retailer's current majority owner. Kevin Ulrich, Anchorage's CEO, said in the release that his firm sees "an immense opportunity for growth and expansion at each brand," which includes the J. Crew and Madewell banners.

The company must be doing better financially — they're paying a 24/7 security detail to prevent people from tagging the 316 Bowery storefront. 

There's also a J. Crew men's shop not too far away on Broadway at Broome. 

The restaurant Saxon + Parole, which never reopened after the PAUSE of March 2020, was the last retail tenant in this space.

What's going in at the renovated 316 Bowery?

Photos by Stacie Joy

Workers continue with a fast-moving renovation inside 316 Bowery at Bleecker... space that was most recently the restaurant Saxon + Parole. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy received a tour of the interior on Saturday. Oddly enough, the contractors and security officers here did not know who the new retail tenant was... only that they'd be open in a week or so... 

A source told Bowery Boogie last week that a J Crew was setting up shop here. This space is a retail conversion, ending the run of bar-restaurants here in recent years.

Inside are fitting rooms, merch shelves and sporting decor (Merrimack canoes hanging from the ceiling).     

There's nothing inside the storefront with the J Crew branding (and is this JC's store color palette?) ... though J Crew does have a Merrimack canoe line of items.

There also weren't any posted work permits. (The approved work permits also don't mention the new tenant, just the scope of the work.) So far, a coming-soon notice hasn't been posted to the J Crew website... or even its Madewell brand.

Anyway, it would make sense for a J Crew to open here — they introduced the Bowery pants and the Ludlow suit to the world in 2010.

The former Saxon + Parole space is for lease on the Bowery

The for rent sign arrived yesterday at 316 Bowery ... officially bringing an end to Saxon + Parole's tenure here at Bleecker.

As noted a few weeks back, the Equestrian-themed restaurant was one of many in the neighborhood that had remained dark since since the PAUSE went into effect in March — this despite ample outdoor space for sidewalk dining. 

S+P opened here in September 2011, replacing the company's Double Crown restaurant. They've kept busy by opening an S+P outpost in Auckland, New Zealand last month. 

As for No. 316, the listing doesn't mention the asking rent for the space (upstairs and downstairs!) that totals 6,600 square feet.... along with the tagged (multiple times) Shepard Fairey Blondie mural.

Double Crown now closed on Bleecker and the Bowery

In case you were wondering what's going on at Double Crown, that big place on the corner of Bleecker and the Bowery. As Diner's Journal reported, the owners decided to close the joint after three years, and reopen it in the fall as something called Saxon & Parole.

Anyway, Double Crown closed after dinner Saturday night's dinner... and they left a note.

Their adjoining bar remains open next door on Bleecker.

Meanwhile, according to LoopNet, the retail space here remains on the market. Per the listing:

The retail condominiums total 6,600 sf, are fully leased to Double Crown Restaurant/Madam Geneva Bar & Lounge and sit at the base of a residential loft building in the heart of the Bowery. The market has experienced a revitalization in recent years and presents a vibrant mix of new residential, retail, hotel, cultural, dining and nightlife offerings. Property Features: 6,600 sf on two levels: 3,400 sf on the Ground Floor and 3,200 sf in the Lower Level. 129 feet of wraparound frontage. Two existing liquor licenses in place. Fully built kitchen. This is a rare opportunity to purchase an income-producing retail condominium on the Bowery with an existing liquor license in-place.