New Shopping Scene in Syracuse?

Shopping in Syracuse? Carousel is a decent sized mall, but after DestinyUSA was put on hold there seemed to be less and less hope for a good shopping place in Syracuse. Well, that hope may be restored. Urban Outfitters has signed on to move into a three level space in Armory Square in downtown Syracuse replacing the clothing store The Edge and Hendricks Photo. According to an article in The Post-Standard the store is set to open in late spring or early summer 2010.

Urban Outfitters is a metropolitan store selling clothes, shoes, accessories, and other fashion items. For a long time Urban Outfitters has been popular in big cities like New York City and Boston. However, students at Jamesville-DeWitt High School seem a little unfamiliar with this store. Replies such as "I've never heard of it," and quizzical faces met my questions about the store. We have stores like Abercrombie, Hollister, and Victoria's Secret. So what does Urban Outfitters have in store for teens and Syracuse, and will it even last?

Paige Morrow, J-DHS junior, is very familiar with Urban Outfitters and was even wearing a sweater from the store when interviewed. "I'm looking forward to it because it looks like it has really good stuff in it when I went to the stores in other states," she says.

J-DHS junior, Lauren Swan, agreed. "It's popular, and it's a good style and good for kids our age," she says. Although the Post-Standard says that Urban Outfitters is a store for people aged 18-30, as mentioned previously, many teens disagree. Swan thinks that the store mainly appeals to teenagers up to 20, but since it has similar appeal as Forever 21, it can even appeal to people as young as 13 years old. "I think it could be for just teens in general," Morrow adds, "Fashion is just getting more popular with younger ages." Rachel Fagut, J-DHS senior, says it's more for ages 16 to 28 and adds, "The styles are definitely more for a younger crowd, but not too young because it's known for bright colors and big sunglasses." Jack Healy, J-DHS freshman, also thinks 18-30 is accurate, saying it's for ages 16-30, "when older people wear that stuff it kind of freaks people out," he adds.
Fagut has also shopped at Urban Outfitters and says, "I've been to the one in Georgetown and it just has so many different things. I love it and it's not too expensive." She also says, "It's such a big name it'll attract people to that part of Syracuse because we don't have one anywhere close to here."

The store called Razzbarry in Armory Square, which carried similar clothing as Urban Outfitters, closed. But does this mean Urban Outfitters has little chance? Razzbarry did close on top of its game. The closure was not related to the economy according to an article on syracuse.com. Right now some teens aren't sure if Urban Outfitters will last or not. J-DHS sophomore Mina Huckins and J-DHS junior Mason Schoeneck agree saying they're not quite sure what it sells to tell if it will last. Healy says he has heard of Urban Outfitters because of his older sister and believes that it will last, "It's for girls and boys and it'll have better clothes (for people) and because of its location downtown." Although he even admits people will possibly look better with the addition of this store he says he probably won't go. "Not unless someone drags me in there," he said. On the other hand Morrow and Swan do think it will last. "Because it's new," said Morrow.

Although Urban Outfitters may attract more people, as Fagut predicts, it could be at the expense of other shops. One question is how Urban Outfitters will affect other businesses downtown. Morrow currently shops downtown at numerous stores including Frankie and Faye, Razzbarry, and has heard of Bounce, but has not been to it yet. She says it could possibly affect business saying, "A lot of stuff downtown is more expensive," she says. She adds that since Urban Outfitters is only one store it most likely won't have an overwhelming impact. "Urban Outfitters is more in between; some stuff is expensive, but other stuff's reasonably priced," she says. Huckins says, "If it's popular it will probably bring more people downtown to shop." Schoeneck agrees, saying it will probably help the businesses.

In addition to affecting downtown business it's questionable if it will affect Carousel Mall. Fagut says, "I don't think it will change business in Carousel, but I think it will bring a lot more downtown." Swan also says that this could affect whether or not new stores would want to be part of DestinyUSA.

Does the addition of Urban Outfitters really mean a whole new line of stores for downtown or is this it? Morrow says, "It might actually bring more like Anthropologie." Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters are affiliated, but unlike Urban Outfitters which The Post- Standard says gears itself to attract customers 18-20, Anthropologie is aimed towards slightly older customers. "I think there won't be as many more clothing stores around it. It's more of a place to go to and shop and then go eat," Fagut says citing the fact that it'll be right next to Sakana Ya and also close by a Starbucks.

For some teens the opening of Urban Outfitters is just too far away to bear, but soon enough a trip to another city for shopping may not be as necessary. Who knows? Urban Outfitters could be just the start of a high-quality shopping district in downtown Syracuse.