The former Episcopal Church turned nightclub will open its doors once again this spring, reborn as Flatiron's own shopping haven. Limelight Marketplace will bring new life to the 6th Ave. stretch of the Ladies Mile district, creating hundreds of jobs by housing over 60 shops from the "who's who" in the city's eclectic worlds of fashion, accessories, food, design, art, beauty and more.
Limelight Marketplace will house a scope of retailers where uptown merges with downtown, and street meets luxury. Fashion retailer Jack Menashe commissioned designer James Mansour to restore the building back to its original glory.
The Limelight Marketplace will house independent jewelry designers on one floor, an apothecary around the corner, a street-smart boutique for NYC's "skater" culture, and a level of classic and organic cuisine that will attract both new business and consumers alike.
The brainchild of Menashe, the historic 163-year-old venue in the city's Flatiron district will transform into a three-story shopper's paradise. Inspired by the U.K.'s Covent Garden, Dover Street Market and Burlington Arcade, the Limelight Marketplace will showcase a "festival of shops" that invoke the feeling of a stroll down a European street.
"Limelight Marketplace delivers an innovative shopping experience for customers who have 'seen it all,' and an unprecedented opportunity for visionary merchants" said CEO, Menashe. "Our plan offers something for everyone-with affordable fashion, unique artwork and home décor, a candy shop that would impress Willy Wonka himself, and an organic market offering the ultimate selection of international specialty foods including caviar, cheese, foie gras and pate, gourmet chocolates, oils and vinegars, specialty meats and many other gastronomic delights."
The Limelight Marketplace will welcome innovative retailers and entrepreneurs at a fraction of the cost of a street-front address, providing a turn-key solution to startups and established brands looking for a presence in the New York City retail market. Reducing start-up and maintenance costs for boutique brands through a unique in-house business model, Limelight Marketplace will supply participants with state of the art POS systems, technology, store build-out and maintenance support, branded materials, and marketing, PR and visual merchandising services.
Guests will also be able to pick up ingredients for organic cooking or dine-in at one of Limelight's restaurants, purchase a last-minute gift, unwind at the salon or check out work from up-and-coming artists in the same place where visitors can discover the most compelling elements of the city, all under one historic roof.
Limelight Marketplace is located at 656 Avenue of the Americas, and will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tags: