A popular clothing brand is re-opening its storefront in Times Square.
On July 29, Old Navy officially reopened to the public at its Times Square location. The Times Square store had previously closed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is the fifth Old Navy location in Manhattan and is the second largest in the area with almost 43,000 square feet of retail space.
Old Navy’s “Why”
Like its other retail spaces, Old Navy’s Times Square store is the first value retailer to integrate the shopping experience by offering the broadest assortment of women’s sizes in stores and online, with no price difference. Active and denim are two key categories.
The retailer caters to the more than just women, although that’s been more of an emphasis. It only sells its own in-house designed and developed product, and carries a wide range of sizes for the entire family, including plus sizes. In 2020, the holding corporation, Gap, Inc., pulled back on a plan to spin off Old Navy, which it had contemplated due to sluggish sales and poor market conditions.
Old Navy values inclusivity, opportunities for youth and a future that is not just sustainable for its customers, but also its employees and communities.
The brand is committed to the health and safety of customers and employees alike and has a number of health and safety measures in place to support teams and customers with a safe shopping experience. To learn more, visit Gap Inc.’s COVID-19 response page.
Old Navy is located at 1516 Broadway.
First store in NYC
The first Old Navy opened in Colma, California, in 1994. One year later, the first Manhattan store opened, where the Rockettes performed at the ceremony.
Old Navy: From Parisian Bar to American Retail Icon
Ever wonder how a bargain fashion brand ended up with a name that sounds more like a maritime tale? The story behind Old Navy’s quirky name is as unexpected as finding designer-inspired fashion at budget prices. Picture this: It’s 1993, and retail wizard Mickey Drexler is strolling through Paris. As Gap Inc.’s CEO, he’d already transformed Gap into a global powerhouse. But he had another vision brewing – converting Gap’s outlet stores into something fresh and different.
While wandering the City of Light, a bar’s sign caught his eye: “Old Navy.” Little did that Parisian watering hole know it would inspire a retail revolution. Despite some board members raising eyebrows, Drexler trusted his instinct. He saw how Gap Warehouses were already attracting young male shoppers and students. Why not give this new concept its own identity?
The first Old Navy store opened with a splash in 1994 in Colma, California. Supermodel Cindy Crawford was there, signing autographs and setting the tone for the brand’s playful marketing approach. This flair for showmanship continues today – The Rockettes performed at the NYC store during the 2022 holiday season. From trend-conscious fashion to wallet-friendly prices, Old Navy has mastered the art of accessible style with a wink.
The business and the bottom line
Old Navy currently has 1,243 stores, occupying about 19.3 million square feet. A division of Gap Inc., it generated net sales of $8.2 billion in 2023 — more than half of the $14.9 billion in sales by Gap Inc., which also operates the Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta brands.
Old Navy continues to build its international presence and recently has had its franchise business expanding in Latin America with launches in Chile, El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Ecuador.
Recent sales gains suggests that consumers have been seeking bargains due to inflation, and Old Navy could be a beneficiary across the retail landscape.
Not bad for a brand named after a chance encounter with a Parisian bar sign.
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