34th Street gets some style

Building owners reap rewards as retail goes upscale

From the October issue: In 1998, it was big news when Banana Republic opened a large store on
34th Street one block east of Macy’s. At the time, its neighbors were
local outlets like Empire 34 and Blooming Boutique, along with discount
clothing retailer Conway. How the block has changed. The stretch of 34th Street, between
Fifth and Sixth avenues, is now filled with far more upscale
international retailers. This year, brokers say Japanese apparel store
Uniqlo has been scouring the strip for multistory locations — just
months after signing one of the most expensive leases ever in Manhattan
farther north on Fifth Avenue. [more]