urbanSTL

After putting considerable thought into it, and taking all of the attributes of the space and location into consideration, I can think of no better option for that space than the first St. Louis location for American Apparel.



http://www.americanapparel.net/



Those of you looking for a tenant, I would strongly encourage you to reach out to them. The symmetry of Washington Avenue (a) being in a downtown location, and (b) formerly being the second-largest garment district in the country only makes it a more inviting call. (See http://www.americanapparel.net/mission/)

^

That would be a great fit (no pun intended).

Perfect! I've been looking for a pair of terry cloth running shorts, but they're so hard to find!

NikeTown.



You can design your own shoes there. I've done it online, and love it. But more than that, they have their full line of Nike apparel.



I think that would be cool. Especially in a prime location.

sda wrote:
The symmetry of Washington Avenue...formerly being the second-largest garment district in the country only makes it a more inviting call. (See

Seriously? Do you think that would play a role in their decision?

Jeff707 wrote:

If the area is supposed to be home to artists and a more bohemian crowd, there needs to be a place where people can buy their instuments.

I realiz e the whole of your post was a little tongue-in-cheek, but the area is not supposed to be home to aritsts. It's way too expensive. Lots of yuppies, so maybe an acoustic guitar store would work, though, so everyone could learn John Mayer and Dave Matthews songs....

Don't forget the empty nesters! They may want to learn some Simon and Garfunkel or the Beatles.

I'm not an empty nester, but I'd rather be learning the Beatles than Dave Matthews.

Jeff707 wrote:

If the area is supposed to be home to artists and a more bohemian crowd, there needs to be a place where people can buy their instuments.

I realiz e the whole of your post was a little tongue-in-cheek, but the area is not supposed to be home to aritsts. It's way too expensive. Lots of yuppies, so maybe an acoustic guitar store would work, though, so everyone could learn John Mayer and Dave Matthews songs....

Yuppies? What's the minimum annual income to be considered one of the yuppies?



What's your definition of an artist? Are you saying that if something is expensive, then an artist can't take part in it?

bprop wrote:

sda wrote:
The symmetry of Washington Avenue...formerly being the second-largest garment district in the country only makes it a more inviting call. (See

Seriously? Do you think that would play a role in their decision?

Maybe. Check their mission statement.

sda wrote:After putting considerable thought into it, and taking all of the attributes of the space and location into consideration, I can think of no better option for that space than the first St. Louis location for American Apparel.



http://www.americanapparel.net/



Those of you looking for a tenant, I would strongly encourage you to reach out to them. The symmetry of Washington Avenue (a) being in a downtown location, and (b) formerly being the second-largest garment district in the country only makes it a more inviting call. (See http://www.americanapparel.net/mission/)

sda, American Apparel looks really nice! Trendy store, decent prices, appeal to men, women and children. It could be more of a destination spot because they have no stores in the local area. Can't please everyone but I think this could be a nice fit.

sda wrote: Maybe. Check their mission statement.

American Apparel is a vertically integrated manufacturer and retailer of clothing for men, women, kids and dogs. Meaning, we've consolidated all stages of production under one roof at our downtown Los Angeles factory—from the cutting and sewing, right through to the photography and marketing.



Ultimately, it is this system that allows us to stay competitive while paying the highest wages in the garment industry. Because we don't outsource to local or developing-nation sweatshops (or to ad agencies, for that matter) the entire process is time-efficient, and we can respond faster to market demand.



We offer the following benefits to all of our employees, sewers and administrators alike, as a matter of policy: paid time off, affordable healthcare for them and their families, company-subsidized lunches, bus passes, free ESL classes, on-site masseurs, free parking, proper lighting and ventilation, and the most up-to-date equipment (be it the latest cutting machine or software). We are continually striving to improve the work environment. (Read More Here)



More importantly to our garment workers though, we offer year-round employment and job security, with virtually no turnover. This is anomalous in an industry dominated by seasonal work.



Not to suggest that we are more ethical than the next business. We're just out to try something different, to make a buck, to bring people the clothes they love, to be human, and have a good time in the process. So far, so good.

Any business downtown would be nice, and I hope you're right...but what about once being the second-largest garmet district in the country resonates with their mission statement?

bprop wrote:Any business downtown would be nice, and I hope you're right...but what about once being the second-largest garment district in the country resonates with their mission statement?

I think he meant that a clothing store resonates well in what once was the second-largest garment district in the country.

bprop wrote:

sda wrote: Maybe. Check their mission statement.

American Apparel is a vertically integrated manufacturer and retailer of clothing for men, women, kids and dogs. Meaning, we've consolidated all stages of production under one roof at our downtown Los Angeles factory—from the cutting and sewing, right through to the photography and marketing.



Ultimately, it is this system that allows us to stay competitive while paying the highest wages in the garment industry. Because we don't outsource to local or developing-nation sweatshops (or to ad agencies, for that matter) the entire process is time-efficient, and we can respond faster to market demand.



We offer the following benefits to all of our employees, sewers and administrators alike, as a matter of policy: paid time off, affordable healthcare for them and their families, company-subsidized lunches, bus passes, free ESL classes, on-site masseurs, free parking, proper lighting and ventilation, and the most up-to-date equipment (be it the latest cutting machine or software). We are continually striving to improve the work environment. (Read More Here)



More importantly to our garment workers though, we offer year-round employment and job security, with virtually no turnover. This is anomalous in an industry dominated by seasonal work.



Not to suggest that we are more ethical than the next business. We're just out to try something different, to make a buck, to bring people the clothes they love, to be human, and have a good time in the process. So far, so good.

Any business downtown would be nice, and I hope you're right...but what about once being the second-largest garmet district in the country resonates with their mission statement?

What I said was that there would be symmetry in having an American Apparel store downtown. Why? Many reasons. For example:



1. As the mission statement you've posted clearly indicates, unlike many other retail outlets, American Apparel actually manufacturers its own garments. That is, it engages in exactly same business that once predominated on Washington Avenue.



2. Again, as the mission statement indicates, American Apparel’s manufacturing occurs domestically in a downtown environment, just as the manufacturing that occurred on Washington Avenue once did.



3. This process takes place in one of the western-most major cities in this country, as St. Louis was in the garment district’s heyday.



4. The employees who produce American Apparel clothing are frequently immigrants to this country or the offspring of immigrants, as the employees of the St. Louis garment district once were.



Also consider:



5. American Apparel is headquartered in the resurgent downtown of a American city plagued by sprawl.



6. American Apparel is a young company located in a downtown environment, much like many of the other businesses downtown.



7. American Apparel’s consumers are largely young and urban, much like the people who currently live in downtown St. Louis – and the people that downtown St. Louis needs to attract.



Pretty obvious points.

OK, If you say so.

I am all for having them downtown.

The clothing from American Apparel is basic and plain. It looks like the type of clothing that other companies or schools purchase in bulk to slap their logos on.

Jeff707 wrote:But they're sooo soft. And fit well.

A moo-moo is softer and fits your changing size. Remember the episode of The Simpsons when Homer gains weight to get on disability and work from home. He couldn't get into his regular fitted clothing--so he bought a moo-moo.



Due to the rise in obesity in Missouri, a "make your own moo-moo store" would be a cash cow. We could call the store Show Me the Moo-Moo.

• http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vx1ZOVnsljs

To each their own. Not everyone can be metropolitan



From The Economist: http://www.economist.com/people/display ... id=8486888

"American Apparel's rise is a striking success story. Mr Charney opened his first shop in 2003. Today he has 143 in 11 countries selling casual clothes for men, women and children. American Apparel's sales for 2006 were an estimated $300m. His company's 80% gross margin, an indicator of its profitability, is well above the industry average of 60%. Its unbranded, brightly coloured and moderately priced T-shirts, sweatshirts, underwear and jeans have become wildly popular among the young, well-travelled crowd that Mr Charney says represents the “world-metropolitan culture”."



From "VisualStore":http://www.americanapparel.net/presscen ... store.html

"In a world where retailers are eager to brand clothing, store environments, even stairways, American Apparel stands apart as the anti-brand. The company feels its target audience - young, urban, educationed individuals - rejects being a walking billboard for brands and responds to its anti-cookie-cutter approach.



As American Apparel's message spreads, designers began transforming the stores into places where people could shop and still feel connected to their communities. "We're not a big chain like The Gap that's going to drop an identical store everywhere," says Parnass, whose firm has many liberties in designing for American Apparel, in part based on his 37-year friendship with the founder. "Each store has its own personality, one that connects people to their neighborhood."



Since American Apparel feels its store locations say as much about the brand as its clothing does, designers scout new cities by looking to where the artists, kids and musicians are hanging out. More often than not, it leads them to transitional or up-and-coming neighborhoods where American Apparel's bright lightbox is often the first to open its doors in many years. "

Jeff707 wrote:A Moo Moo store it is.



So say we all.

Wow: Simpsons and Battlestar Gallactica references. Golf clap to Jeff.