Vince, which should hit the road for its initial public offering before the end of the year, threw a housewarming party Wednesday night at its new 3,050-square-foot SoHo flagship at 89 Mercer Street in Manhattan. Beth Cohn, senior vice president of retail and e-commerce, said Vince will open its 22nd full-price store by yearend at Columbus Avenue and 71st Street in New York. Like the SoHo store, it too will have two levels and takes over the location from a former restaurant. On deck for Vince is a kids’ line that will be launched next fall, said Jill Granoff, chief executive officer of Vince and its parent Kellwood Co. She said the kids’ line will cater to both girls and boys.
Meantime, the SoHo store was packed with press, bloggers and friends checking out the women’s and men’s sportswear and footwear, and enjoying signature cocktails from Mulberry Project and entertainment from Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe.