American Eagle to Open Times Square Flagship

American Eagle to Open Times Square Flagship
November 06, 2009

Pittsburgh-based specialty apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters Inc. is scheduled to open a 25,000-sq.-ft. flagship store in New York's Times Square on Nov. 19, according to Reuters. Located near the intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street, the store will feature four shopping levels with distinct floors for the company's various brands, including AE denim and intimates, and dormwear brand aerie.

The store design is a new concept for the brand, featuring a diverse combination of materials, from brushed metal to wood to polished concrete. Oversized subway tiles and custom lighting also proliferate throughout the space, and a 13-ft. video wall adds visual impact.

In true Times Square fashion, the American Eagle store has also added a 25-story, 15,000-sq.-ft. super-sign outside from ABC Regional Sports and Entertainment Sales, featuring 12 LED panels providing content 18 hours a day. Experiential design firm The Barnycz Group conceived the design of the dynamic architectural facade of synchronized LED displays, integrated the technology, and is overseeing the installation.

Tied into the exterior signage, a customer experience called "15 Seconds of Fame" will invite purchasing customers to pose in a mini photo studio. Moments after, the customer's photo will be projected onto the 25-story-high exterior sign for all of Times Square to see.

"We know that shopping in Times Square is a landmark event for millions of customers who come from around the globe to visit," Jim O'Donnell, CEO, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., told Reuters. "American Eagle Outfitters' goal is to offer them a retail experience unlike anything they've experienced before--even by Times Square standards."