Nike Opens First NYC Community Store in Flatbush, Brooklyn
Addicted To Retail (ATR) presents: Nike's First New York Community Store in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
The intersection of Nostrand and Flatbush Avenues marks the heart of the Flatbush neighborhood and in many ways Brooklyn embodies the heart and soul of New York City. As a result, Nike chose to locate its first New York Community Store just a few hundred feet from this storied intersection.
"Nike Community Stores are about neighborhood roots and community connection," said Dennis van Oossanen, Vice President of Nike's North America Direct to Consumer business. "So when we looked for a location, we wanted a place that was instantly recognizable, that expressed the unique spirit of Flatbush and Brooklyn and that amplified the values of the Nike brand. We think we found the perfect spot."
Nike retail stores give consumers an all-access pass to the world of Nike products and services. As part of the Nike retail experience, the mission of the brand's Community Stores is to build and empower a healthy local community through the unifying power of sport and to serve as a catalyst for positive change by partnering with local organizations. All Community Stores have local hiring initiatives that aim to hire at least 80 percent of store employees – known as store athletes – through local channels and from within a five-mile radius of the store. The Flatbush Community Store has already met this target.
All Nike Community Stores include design elements and products that reflect the heritage of the surrounding neighborhood. In the Flatbush store, these elements include Brooklyn imagery shot by local photographer Anthony Blasko, including shots of store athletes from Nike retail stores in the New York area, Brooklyn-specific products only available at the store and gear from local sports teams. In designing the store, Nike also sought to protect the architectural and historical integrity of the building, including restoring the existing brick and iron/metal work and its original patina, as well as preserving much of the exposed brick, hardwood flooring, atrium windows and staircase.
The Flatbush Community Store product offerings lead with Nike running, training, basketball and sportswear products for women, men and young athletes. Through the Nike.com Assist service, consumers can also purchase product from nike.com, together with in-store products, in a single, mobile transaction and with no shipping cost. At a new digital lounge, consumers will also be able to sign up for Nike+ Training Club and Run Club community events in New York City from four in-store screens, as well as customize and order a pair of NIKEiD shoes.
The Brooklyn location marks Nike's fifth Community Store since Nike first established the concept in Portland, Ore., and represents the brand's second location on the East Coast, after the Ivy City neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Additional Community Stores are located in New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood and South Chicago.
Tags: Nike, Community Store, Flatbush, Brooklyn