ROTHMANS TO OPEN NEW CONCEPT STORE IN AUGUST

New York City-based men’s specialty retailer Rothmans has announced plans to open a new concept store, harry-a Rothman’s project, in Bronxville, New York. The 1,000-square-foot shop at 60 Pondfield Road will focus on sportswear and gifts, instead of tailored clothing. It is scheduled to open on August 15.

“This new concept gives us more freedom where we can experiment and veer away from some of our traditional ways of doing business,” says Ken Giddon, president of the family-owned company. “Our vendor mix is going to be, to use a word that is already overused, a curation of our curation – with a few new twists thrown in.”

The store is named after Giddon’s grandfather. “He was truly a legend in the industry, but his name is being forgotten as many of those who know him are now gone,” he notes. “He was a scrapper, coming from a destitute family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and he want from having a pushcart of rags to building a major New York City store. Unfortunately, he passed away without ever knowing that I had continued what he had started.”

Rothmans is already established in Westchester County, with a large store in Scarsdale, which is one reason Giddon chose this new location. “We like the idea of introducing the concept in Westchester where we already well known,” he says. “While Bronxville is close by, we believe the retail in the town is up and coming, and it is underserved in the men’s market.”

Equally important, Giddon says that, as a men’s retailer in a challenging market, he must keep up with times. “The men’s business is changing very rapidly, both from a product mix point of view and in terms of the supplier/retailer relationship,” he notes. “Independent retailer can still be important, but they have to be nimble, creative, and willing to experiment with technology and showrooming. We are.”