Opening Day Crowds For Nike SoHo Anger Neighbors
SoHo residents aren’t happy with the new Nike store, and it's not because Nike doesn’t sell handbags for $3k.
The 55k SF store—which boasts exclusive Air Force 1 sneakers and a digital, interactive basketball court—opened at 529 Broadway on Nov. 18, attracting unruly masses that clogged up an already-crowded retail area. (People really, really like their sneakers, it seems.)
Nike emailed the neighbors earlier in the week claiming it had “crowd control” plans in place, but none seemed visible except for some “big guys like bouncers out front yelling and pushing people,” one resident told the New York Post.
The sports brand also has athletic events and celebrity talks scheduled for the store as part of its “Swoosh Saturdays,” which could bring even more chaos to the area.
SoHo residents have been resisting the store since it began construction in 2014, claiming the developers (a partnership of Jeff Sutton, Joe Sitt, Bobby Cayre and the Adjmi family) exploited a zoning loophole. By calling the store an “alteration,” the residents claim, the developers were able to exceed the 10k SF limit set in the M1-5 zoning law. [NYP]
