Barneys Gets Down

Looking to attract downtown shoppers with downtown tastes and budgets, Barneys New York opened a Co-op shop at 326 W. 18th St., within the Chelsea district.

Framed by an industrial design, the store features both men's and women's wear, described as fun date clothes. Execs wanted to make the store a social setting and it seems the sexes can mingle in all areas of the store. Like another new source of trendy apparel — H&M – the Co-op features “Ally McBeal” fitting rooms (now synonymous for unisex).

Just around the corner form the retailer's original store (which closed in the 90s), the Co-op occupies a space used for Barneys'semiannual warehouse sales. These sales, incidentally, will continue. Six weeks out of the year, the Co-op will close so the sales can take center stage.