The store many students consider the perfect match to campus fashion will open shop at One Palmer Square on June 27. After a period of publicity in the downtown area, J. Crew will replace Waverly Home, next to PNC Bank.
"We asked them to come," said David Newton, vice president of Palmer Square Management. J.Crew — a provider of "casual but also very good quality" clothes — was eager to take them up on the offer, he said.
"The upcoming J.Crew store at One Palmer Square is a natural extension of our existing penetration in the Northeast," said Dan Fleming, executive vice president of J.Crew retail.
"It's a viable market and a great combination of existing demographics and a well-respected university."
Princeton, Newton said, provides a "unique opportunity" for any retail store. It is not every day, he said, a merchant has the opportunity to move into such a prime location as Palmer Square.
The University provides a large base of customers for the Palmer Square shops, Newton said, including students, parents and other visitors to the campus.
But he added that there is more to Princeton than the University. "I think that you have to look at Princeton as more than just the Ivy-walled college," he said, citing the patronage he expected from town residents.
"J. Crew talks to both halves of that equation."
Students were enthused about J. Crew's opening, and said they would likely comprise a large percentage of the store's patronage.
"I think that it'll give a new clothing option to students," said Jeff Vinikoor '03. "Everyone can shop at Banana Republic and Gap, but women have additional outfitters such as Ann Taylor and Zoe. With J. Crew in town men will have another place to shop.
"It's a huge improvement!" he exclaimed.
Some students, however, expressed indifference toward the upcoming addition to the Princeton downtown shopping scene.
Elizabeth Brush '04 said she is not overly excited about the new store. "We already get the catalogs in the mailroom," she said.
Brush added that although she owns several J.Crew coats and sweaters, she has never bought anything from a J.Crew store.In light of the economic downturn, Princeton has made a more concerted effort to expand its retail. At the same time, Princeton has become an increasingly attractive place for businesses to settle.
"Anyone who really looks at Princeton really sees a market which extends far more than just the University in terms of its affluence," Newton said.
He also said his company is working on finding other stores to expand into "the heart of the community," especially cosmetics and another children's store. But he added that no definite decisions have yet been made.
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