Sephora Coming to Charleston & Other Mall News

Yesterday's announcement of White House|Black Market coming to Huntington hasn't been the only retail news in West Virginia as of late.  Last week, the Charleston Town Center announced that anchor store JC Penney's was getting ready for a multi-million dollar renovation.  According to to the Charleston Daily Mail, the renovations will be from "top to bottom" and will include a Sephora Inside JC Penney.  It should be no surprise to anyone that I am a huge Sephora fan, so I'm more than excited to hear about this addition to the Charleston Town Center.  A few years ago, JC Penney started to remodel its stores, and one of the first ones they did was at the Ashland Town Center, which also included a Sephora.  Ashland is maybe 20-ish minutes from Huntington, and the mall there really isn't worth writing home about.  At the time, the renovation seemed basically to showcase the American Living line, a sort of preppy-Americana brand. That same section now showcases the women's lingere...to show how well the American Living brand is doing.  I'm more or less expecting the Charleston store to look very similar to the Ashland store. 

While the JC Penney remodel is set in stone, I've heard a rumor that Forever 21 is looking to move in the Charleston Town Center.  Personally, I'd rather have a Forever 21 in Huntington than White House|Black Market.  For those who aren't familiar with Forever 21, it's a flash fashion store, meaning the stuff you saw on the catwalk two weeks ago will be in store this weekend.  Prices are dirt cheap, but the quality is dirt cheap as well.  You do get what you pay for: a cute dress that will last this season and that's it.  They do carry a pretty good plus size line called Faith 21.  All of the Forever 21 stores I have been in are huge, and I'm not 100% sure of where there might be that size available in the CTC.  There's the old Steve & Barry's location on the east side of the mall, but it's been split into two different stores. One side is an inflatable bounce house place where you can hold a party, the other sells crap out of distribution catalogs, like fiber optic angel statues.  I don't know what the leases are on those stores, but that's the only place I can think of where Forever 21 would want to move into.

The Huntington Mall is getting ready to do a multi-million dollar renovation in honor of its 30th anniversary.  Basically, skylights are being put in, new flooring installed, remodeling the joke of a food court, and some other odds and ends.  However, they are also going to put in two new stores.  While I haven't heard any rumors of what might be going in those, I imagine it's not going to be anything to get excited over.   Just throwing this out there, but I foresee a Talbot's Women and Petite.  There's already a Talbot's there, and it doesn't carry the plus size or petite clothes.  

My little sister asked me last night what other stores I could see moving into downtown Huntington after White House|Black Market.  Off the top of my head...Urban Outfitters, and that's only if WH|BM does well.  I think between Marshall, high schoolers, and people in the 24-40 age bracket there's enough population and interest to support an UO.  Like Forever 21, most Urban Outfitters are fairly large stores.  Most of the space in Pullman Square and across the street on Third Avenue is occupied.  There's not enough draw to bring people to Fourth Avenue, and obviously location is key.

White House|Black Market Coming to Huntington!

About a month ago, I posted a list of stores or brands that I'd love to see come to West Virginia.  While it's not one of my top picks, White House|Black Market is a welcome addition to downtown Huntington.  It's not going in Pullman Square though, but at 905 Third Avenue.  This is what use to be the 9th St. Plaza, right next to the AT&T Store and facing the patio of the Marshall Hall of Fame Cafe.  The building was most recently an upscale kid's clothing store--or for longtime residents of Huntington--the former Bowinkle's restaurant. 

I miss Bowinkle's.  Not only was the food good, it was very affordable.  You can't eat downtown and drop fewer than $10 on a meal.  I don't even what to think about eating out with kids costs these days.  I may be a bit biased, though, because Bowinkle's was my first job.

Ahem, back to White House|Black Market.  As the store's name might suggest, a majority of the clothing and accessories are in black and white. Sure, there's some neutrals mixed in, along with a color or two, but the store looks and feels like a P. Diddy theme party.  The best way I can best describe the clothes is a mix between Ann Taylor Loft and Macy's INC line. 

The only reason I don't see WH|BM doing well are the price points.  WH|BM is pricey, at least by West Virginia standards.  Expect a dress--even a basic jersey dress--to cost around $100.  Shoes also average $100.  I can definitely see lots of Marshall students shopping at WH|BM, and between them and the small-ish professional population, the store might be able to survive. 

Here are some dresses I'd love to get in my closet:

Mosiac Print Chemise, $98

Blue Floral Print Sheath Dress, $168

I am excited, though.  No word yet on when White House|Black Market will open, but according to WSAZ.com, the company said "soon."