Bringing Barneys back early: Second store to debut in 2016

Sometimes the best gifts are those that come early. Barneys New York's second store, at its original Chelsea location on Seventh Ave., was originally scheduled to open in 2017. But recent reports are that the store will actually make its debut in January 2016! No one is elaborating about the reasons for the accelerated schedule, but it's great news for a number of reasons. The most obvious, of course, is that it will bring retail back to the building, which had housed Loehmann's until that legendary chain's bankruptcy and shuttering. (That lease was expiring in 2017, so it's likely Barneys would have reclaimed the location anyway.) The neighborhood will be even busier, which should help neighboring retailers and restaurants, too. It's also great for the downtown Barney's shopper, who is either buying at the Madison Ave. store or at a number of smaller boutiques. And from a business standpoint, it continues to reinforce the image of N.Y.C. as a place where retailers can not only succeed, but can get their construction done in a timely manner! That should be positive news for all of the new retailers and eateries opening in the city in coming months. The team at Westfield has finally confirmed that Eataly will open at 4 World Trade Center. Reines Gallery will open its first retail showroom in the city at 92 Laight St. Athletic footwear and menswear seller Kith is expanding by 3,000 s/f at 644 Broadway. James Perse will open a unit at 257 Church St. in the spring. The Fulton Stall Market has taken a permanent space at 107 Front St. The retail development at the Columbus Circle subway station is starting to lease up - Specs New York, Bluwire, and Manhattan Studios will open this spring. Also coming in the spring: Dylan's Candy Bar to 33 Union Square West. Porsche Design has opened at 501 Madison Ave. Drybar has signed for 317 West 13th St. Apparel and accessories boutique Coop + Spree debuted at 202 Elizabeth St. Kiosk, which left Soho earlier this year, returns in a pop-up through early 2015 at 540 LaGuardia Place. Peak Performance gym will take two floors at 90 Fifth Ave. The calendar gets ever busier as the year comes to a conclusion. My friends at NYCREW will host a special focus on "Facilities Management Today: Trends and Challenges," on Nov. 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Pratt Institute, 144 West 14th St. Moderators Audrey Shultz of Pratt Institute and Amelia Janisz of EZ Building EHS will host a panel discussion on the latest property facility management trends, joined by speakers Michael Aisner, RXR Realty Trust; Paul Magda of ABM Facility Services; and Patricia Revellese of SL Green Realty Corp. Save the date for our Holiday Gala and Empire Award presentation, to be held on Dec. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Columbus Citizens Foundation Townhouse, 8 East 69th St. We'll honor the achievements of 2014, look forward to 2015, and celebrate with food, drink and NYCREW's unique camaraderie! Happy Halloween and Happy Shopping! Faith Hope Consolo is the chairman of The Retail Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, New York, N.Y.