IBEX completes construction of Gant's Rugger 700 s/f store

IBEX Construction (IBEX) has completed construction on Gant's Rugger stand-alone store on Bleecker St. in Greenwich Village. The store opened for business on April 26. The 700 s/f store was completed by IBEX in a two-week period and showcases Gant's Rugger Collection. Located at 353 Bleecker St., the store's interior design and fixtures were inspired by the retailer's New Haven manufacturing beginnings. The narrow space, with exposed brick and open ceilings, includes vintage furniture and factory-floor fixtures, and special wood and frosted glass dressing area modeled after the foreman's office of Bernard Gant, the company's founder. "IBEX has created an intimate and unique space for Gant, worthy of its longstanding tradition and exclusive apparel," said Andy Frankl, president of IBEX Construction. "Given the timeframe to complete this project and the challenges of a build-out in such an old downtown building, we are extremely proud of this project. We never said can't to Gant!" The Bleecker St. site comes on the heels of IBEX completing a 2,500 s/f build-out at Gant's flagship store on Fifth Ave. in Manhattan last year. "Bleecker St. is the logical next step in the development of GANT Rugger as a stand-alone business. Our goal is to be the best neighborhood shop for our target consumer," said Ari Hoffman, president and CEO, GANT USA. The Bleecker St. store was designed by Gary Metzger of Metzger/Metzger Associates.