MAISON DU KREWE EYEWEAR OPENS FLAGSHIP STORE IN HISTORIC BROWNSTONE ON NYC’S GANSEVOORT STREET
New Orleans-based, handcrafted eyewear company Krewe celebrated the opening of its new flagship concept, Maison du Krewe, at 67 Gansevoort Street in New York City’s Meatpacking District, with a New Orleans-style fête on Thursday evening, November 3rd, 2022. Bringing NOLA’s signature energy to NYC, the brand treated guests to live music by Calvin Johnson & Native Son, food by James Beard Award Winning Chef Justin Devillier, specialty cocktails from James Beard Award Winner Neal Bodenheimer, and natural wine & beer from the flagship’s natural wine parlor, &Holiday. Guests shopped the Krewe collection throughout the evening, with 10 percent of sales going to the Krewe Foundation to be donated to a local NYC charity supporting youth in need of eye care to help them change the way they see the world.
The event was hosted by Stirling Barrett, Krewe’s founder & creative director, and guests included Olivia Erwin Rosenthal, founder of Olivia Erwin Interiors, Toussaint Stackhouse, Sara & Paul Costello, Lorey Flick, Nicelle & TG Herrington, Mani Dawes & Sean Josephs, Zach Kupperman, Robert Leblanc, Wendy Lyn, Garrison & Amy Neill, Bryan Rafanelli, Erin Romney, Kendall Winingder and Patrick Schindler, Kristen Shannon, Hue and Melissa Townsend, and Allen Van Norden.
The opening debuted a 2,800 square foot, four-story multi-purpose creative and communal space in a historic 1800s townhouse, the first of two flagships planned, with the second opening later this year in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The location’s ground level consists of the store itself, a wine bar and cellars, and a back-of-house area. A side entrance leading to the top floor will act as the NYC headquarters, a satellite product design studio, and flex events space, and includes adjoining guest quarters and a full-service kitchen. The basement will house a lens cutter and edger to fulfill prescriptions in addition to a fulfillment center that will soon offer same-day NYC delivery.
&HOLIDAY Natural Wine Bar
Perched at the top of the building’s mezzanine, &HOLIDAY — a responsibly sourced wine bar — is designed to be a vacation within the store. A living room-like setup is built for friends and strangers alike to stay a while.
A core tenet of the Krewe in-person experience is learning. To date, education has been surrounding product, face shape, and personal style. While natural wine is a new vertical, the principle remains the same. Guests will learn about responsible production and sourcing, techniques, and flavors.
This is a new ecosystem within a retail corridor that provokes a journey both experimental and beautiful. Natural Wine is an expression of places, craftsmanship, and communities – all things that are authentic to Krewe.
Photos courtesy of Rob Berry/BFA. Pictured above: Stirling Barrett, Toussaint Stackhouse, and Olivia Erwin Rosenthal.
