When Banana Republic tapped Noa Santos to refresh its Lower Manhattan flagship, the first thing he did was dig into the archives. “Banana has always been meant to feel transporting,” says the designer, founder of Nainoa, who recalls poring over hand-drawn catalogs and vintage photography. Set in the SoHo–Cast Iron Historic District, the store needed to stir both wanderlust and pride of place. “These properties should test the boundaries of imagination.”
Unveiled this past summer, the transformation—shepherded by Gap Inc. creative director Zac Posen—does just that. Layout tweaks foster curiosity, with uninterrupted sight lines and sequences of compression and expansion that inject intimate scale. Hearths and niches accentuate a residential feel while materials celebrate a global worldview—from exposed aggregate of the raw concrete flooring to the natural agave fibers of a unique light installation by Mexico-based artist Angela Damman. “The closer you get, the yummier every detail looks and feels,” says Santos. “Things ask to be touched.”
The update also heralds the arrival of BR Home, the brand’s recently introduced collection of furniture, lighting, and accessories, which is displayed across three rooms of vignettes on the second level (a.k.a. the Penthouse). Upstairs, shoppers can also find menswear and the bespoke services atelier for tailoring, styling, and even custom embroidery. The first floor, meanwhile, is dedicated to womenswear, with a special section devoted to vintage pieces from the 1980s and ’90s. The result, Posen notes, is “a new chapter for the brand, emphasizing premium quality, craftsmanship, and self-expression.”
Rounding out the mix is a rotating collection of art curated by creative consultant Jacqueline Schnabel—a longtime friend of Posen’s who likewise assembled the pottery, objects, and books layered throughout the flagship’s 17,000 square feet. “This space aims to be more than just a retail location,” says Posen. “It’s a destination for discovery and inspiration.” Adds Santos: “It’s a calling.” At 552 Broadway. —Sam Cochran
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