The lucky few store owners who’ve scored space along Bleecker street’s stylish blocks know that the West Village is prime real estate. For Robert Stock, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of menswear label Robert Graham, it all came together some 40 years after he first set foot into a neighborhood that’s still inspiring him today. “My first apartment in New York was right around the corner,” Stock explains. “When I moved in I was just starting out and working at Ralph Lauren, so when this space opened up across the street from Ralph’s store on Bleecker, I knew it was meant to be.”
Scott Vogel, Robert Stock, Bill Sweedler, Michael Buckley, Neal Kusnetz
The space Stock is referring to is Robert Graham’s very first New York flagship store, opened this week with a celebration that included family, friends, colleagues and longtime neighbors. It’s the brand’s 11th location, but it’s the one the company considers home. The store, much like the colorful and unique brand itself, is filled with eclectic flair, much of which Stock explained, “was inspired by the mood of the area, a kind of vintage elegance that we tried to maintain by keeping the bones of the store intact.” While the interior has been kept true to its original state, Stock was keen on bringing in personal touches that match the flair-filled whimsy of the brand. Old photos, curated antiques, a hand-beaded portrait of The Beatles, a table made from airplane rudders, these are just a few of Stock’s favorite things that line the walls along with the signature paisley, multicolored button-down shirts and brightly colored blazers.
Robert Stock, Sandra Ganz, Mariano Rivera
“We’re a brand for people who collect things,” Robert Graham CEO Michael Buckley noted. “As you walk through here everything, even the actual merchandise, feels like some little different treasure or work of art much like many of the places you can come across in the West Village.” In essence, Robert Graham’s Bleecker Street address is reflective of its spirit—special, eclectic and indicative of a guy who isn’t afraid to explore new territory in a familiar space.
Robert Stock, Mary C and The Stellars
MORE:
Gotham West Opens in New York
Ermenegildo Zegna Fetes a Beverly Hills Boutique
Maison Montblanc on Madison
