Bonobos May Open Guideshop in Detroit
Men's retailer Bonobos is planning to open a store in Detroit, a development that would bring another higher-end clothing brand to a city that until recently lacked many such options. The New York City-based company has posted a help-wanted ad for its "upcoming Detroit location" that refers to that store's planned launch. Bonobos, which launched in 2007 as an internet-only retailer, began adding a few brick-and-mortar locations in 2011 to expose its brand to more consumers. Its stores, called "Guideshops," offer consumers a place to browse and try on Bonobos clothes, but don't stock merchandise. Orders must be shipped by mail to customers’ homes. There are currently 22 Bonobos stores, mostly in larger cities.
Total Retail's Take: Despite its financial troubles, Detroit has been having a retail revival as of late. If Bonobos does come to the Motor City, it could find many available storefronts downtown along Woodward Avenue, which has been attracting nationally known fashion retailers lately and saw the arrival last year of a John Varvatos flagship store and the opening this year of a Nike store and "athleisure" retailer Kit + Ace.
