Briarwood Mall announces addition of White House Black Market; Ann Taylor LOFT now open, too
Ann Taylor LOFT is now open at Ann Arbor's Briarwood Mall, and this month the mall is announcing the addition of another women's clothing store, White House Black Market.
Briarwood marketing director Denise Murray tells AnnArbor.com that the mall’s leasing and management teams have been working to attract higher-end merchants in response to consumer demand.
Ann Taylor LOFT opened last month, and White House Black Market is scheduled to open in late July or August.
“We continue to make adjustments to our merchant mix in order to meet the wants and needs of our shoppers,” Murray says.
White House Black Market is a Chico’s-owned shop that started in 1985 in Baltimore. What began as two separate boutiques, focusing on clothing and accessories in shades of white and black, respectively, joined to become WHBM in 1997.
Today, the clothier focuses on bold black and white fashions that include a splash of color. The price tags are comparable to Ann Taylor LOFT and Chico’s, and the shop attracts style-conscious shoppers, including Michelle Obama.
White House Black Market plans to move in to the old BabyGap location just off Center Court and next to Sunglass Hut. The store will measure 2,466 square feet. The WHBM website currently lists 3 job openings in Ann Arbor — a store manager, a sales lead and a sales associate, each due to start in July.
BabyGap has relocated to a built-out area within GapKids. The intimates line of Gap has been discontinued, leaving space for the kids' line relocation.
Murray says Briarwood shoppers should also expect other small improvements at the mall to improve ambiance, including expanded seating areas, improved variety of shops, and enhanced visibility for storefronts.
Angela Smith is a freelance contributor to AnnArbor.com. You can email her at angieannarbor@gmail.com.
Comments
Holy Cow
Tue, Jun 7, 2011 : 12:13 a.m.
I agree that most of the kiosks are tacky. I do not like the few kiosks that call out to you to try to get you to come over.
average joe
Tue, Jun 7, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
One of the reasons I stay away from Briarwood is because of a few operators (not all)of the kiosks. I hate it when they follow you down the main aisle, & won't leave you alone. I even seen a perfume sales rep spraying cologne on a disinterested mall customer trying to get them to 'try it'. Better policing by mall management would help.
dading dont delete me bro
Sun, Jun 5, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
sounds racist to me.
jeremy stephens
Sun, Jun 5, 2011 : 7:30 a.m.
I've got a great idea for the mall; how about a little diversity of the stores? There are about 4 or 5 hair salons that are all pretty much the same and are all owned by Regis. Last time I checked, eating establishments were extremely limited and the selection consisted of a small handful (including the two pretzel shops that are right next to each other). There are at least two nail salons, about a half dozen women's shoe stores and a plethora of clothing stores which seem to mostly cater to teenage girls. The only thing the mall has going for it right now is Sears, Gamestop, the clothing stores for small children (i.e, Children's Place and Baby Gap) and the couple other large department stores that I personally dont bother with. Ever since the movie theatre and bookstore closed, there hasn't been any reason for me to be there, mostly because I'm a guy and so 90% of the stores there don't matter to me. I can think of a few things that might make this mall seem more appealing- 1. Add one or two restaraunts that serve real food. There used to be an awesome sports bar/cafe there that i used to love to go to. Now, when I do happen to go to the mall, I end up leaving the mall to grab a bite to eat when I get hungry 2. Try to attract a toy store, book store and maybe create another movie theater (even if charges more than $2 lol.). This will help appeal to a wider array of consumer interest. I don't hate this mall. I believe that it is important to the Ann Arbor area since it is a major source of business, employment, etc. Also, I personally have many great memories relating to the place and would like to see it continue to be successful in years ahead.
nicole
Sun, Jun 5, 2011 : 2:38 a.m.
Why not describe more about Ann Taylor loft? Briarwood clothing selection is not that good! Especially if you are thin. It's so hard to find clothes anymore if you are small. It's like you're doomed to junior clothing or something. You can't even find real women's clothes in small sizes. I'm 45 and about the same size I was when I was 20. And I can tell you that what a size 2, 4 or 6 used to be 20 years ago, is not what it is today. Today those sizes are huge!! Vanity sizing I guess.
Angela Smith
Sun, Jun 5, 2011 : 11:56 a.m.
Here's a little more about LOFT: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/ann-arbors-briarwood-mall-to-welcome-second-ann-taylor-store-loft/">http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/ann-arbors-briarwood-mall-to-welcome-second-ann-taylor-store-loft/</a>
Donald Wilson
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Haven't been to Briarwood since the movie theater left. Used to shop before movies. No need to go there anymore.
xmo
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.
WHBM sounds like a store that only the "super rich" can shop at since "the shop attracts style-conscious shoppers, including Michelle Obama" Everybody knows that cost is no object to her or her husband.
Angela
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 11:38 p.m.
As someone who does not fit into the "style-conscious" category, nor the "super rich" category, I find the generalizations to be a bit foolish. I have purchased a few pieces of clothing from WHBM as well as a pair of sandals. Mind you, everything that I have bought from there has been on sale and I got some great deals! I mostly wear only black and white clothing and I would rather spend a bit more on something that is going to last me longer than a year's worth of wear. For example, my sandals I bought from there have lasted 4 years through rain, salt water, the beach, sweat, chlorine, and they still look brand new! I am glad that this store and the LOFT is coming to Briarwood! Perhaps the new "higher end" stores will keep people shopping here instead of going to Somerset.
Macabre Sunset
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
It's definitely a trendy store, and designed to appeal to the younger set. So prices are about 1.5 - 2 times higher than you'd find at the budget places. The class warfare junk, though, I don't get it. If only the "super rich" can afford a $88 pair of wedge heels (the most popular item on their site right now), your definition of super rich must include 75% of the population. Kids pay more for fashion, and they like places like this to tell them what's fashionable. You might be mistaking this mall store with a store like Bergdorf Goodman, where you will not find even last year's shoes marked down below $400. That's more a "designer" place and probably wouldn't survive long in Ann Arbor. Either way, I don't have a problem with people spending their money any way they want to spend it. No matter what they do, they probably make wiser choices than the government.
John B.
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
I can't recall the last time I was at Briarwood. Maybe ten or twelve years ago? Aren't malls dead yet...?
AAmom
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
Briarwood is a mess. It's too cluttered and they still don't have Antrhropologie! Remove all of those tacky kiosks!
A2Susie
Sun, Jun 5, 2011 : 3:35 a.m.
Disagree about the kiosks. It give the really small retailer a chance for exposure without a huge outlay of capital in a place with lots of shoppers . Good to give the little guy a chance.
chipper
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
I agree with AAmom! Please open an Anthropologie at Briarwood!
Holy Cow
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 2:18 p.m.
I am glad that Briarwood has been able to attract nicer stores recently. I was worried that when Spencers Gifts went in that it was an indication of which direction the mall was going. Still miss the days when malls had a more eclectic mix of stores such as Kresges, kitchen stores (the practical kind not the expensive kind), Hallmark stores etc. It would also be nice to see the addition of another fast casual restaurant such as Panera, Noodles etc.