Fashion Stores Morph Into Department Stores, Teens Dominate One NYC Block, Moncler Picks Aspen and More

The following stories are from VMSD, INSTORE’s sister publication for retail design professionals. Visit VMSD.com or subscribe here.

The Drift Towards Department Stores

Fashion retailers are morphing into department stores by adding categories far beyond their original focus. U.K. chains like Sports Direct now incorporate multiple brands and former standalone retailers across their floors, while Next has expanded from semi-formalwear to include homewares, coffee shops, and stationery. The shift shows that “department store” is less a fixed format than an evolving retail strategy — one not necessarily tied to luxury. Read the full commentary.

Young people shopping in “Tween Row”. PHOTO COURTESY OF VMSD

Tween Row: How NYC’s Broadway Block Became Teen Retail Mecca

A single block of Broadway between Broome and Spring Streets has become a cultural hotspot for Gen Z and Gen Alpha shoppers, anchored by Edikted, Princess Polly, Brandy Melville, Garage, and PacSun. The sidewalks function as gathering spaces where teens line up, film content, and turn shopping into a social ritual—proving that physical retail thrives when it mirrors how young consumers communicate and discover trends. The block succeeds because it’s participatory, performative, and designed around social media culture. Read the full story.

Atlanta Converting Office Park Into Mixed-Use Retail Destination

Atlanta’s 2.2 million-square-foot Piedmont Center office complex in Buckhead will be reborn as a mixed-use destination featuring a pedestrian-friendly, street-level retail and restaurant boulevard. CP Group, which purchased the 46-acre site last June, is transforming what was once purely office space into a community hub — similar to its recent conversions of Bank of America Plaza and The Center (formerly CNN Center). Upgrades begin later this year. Read more.

Moncler Grenoble Opens First U.S. Flagship in Aspen

Luxury outerwear brand Moncler chose resort town Aspen, CO, for its first U.S. Moncler Grenoble flagship, housed in an 1890s sandstone building on East Hyman Street. The 2,700-square-foot store features immersive alpine-inspired design by Swiss studio Küchel Architects, including a cave-like entrance, a sculptural central tree, and circular bays topped with domes. Natural materials like stone and wood reinforce the brand’s mountaineering heritage while creating a refined shopping environment. Read more.

Takeaways for Jewelers From This Week’s Wrap-Up

Here are a few actionable takeaways for jewelry retailers based on this week’s headlines:

• Don’t just sell jewelry. Consider adding complementary categories beyond jewelry — fashion, accessories, gifts — without losing your core identity.
• Think beyond Main Street. Resort towns like Aspen work for luxury flagships — could your second location target affluent vacation destinations?
• Watch for office conversions. Office park conversions create new retail corridors — watch for mixed-use redevelopments in your market.
• Make shopping an event. Gen Z shops where retail feels participatory and social — make your store Instagram-worthy and shareable.