Times Square retail sets new records

From the February issue: A row of denim-clad derrieres greets pedestrians thronging the corner of Broadway and West 44th Street. Advertising the new Levi’s store under construction at 1501 Broadway, these cheeky pictures reference Times Square’s seedy porn-shop past while heralding the area’s big-brand future. Levi’s is only the latest mega-brand to debut on Broadway between 42nd Street and 46th Street, the heart of the district’s increasingly upscale and expensive retail hub. The Levi’s store sits two blocks south of 1551 Broadway, the former Howard Johnson’s site snapped up by teen apparel chain American Eagle Outfitters last year in a blockbuster deal. American Eagle is reportedly paying $20 million a year for 26,500 square feet of space and a 250-foot-high sign tower in development.