Daffy's to close

[OffenseTaken]

Ok, they have lots of crap, but you lose credibility at neater, shinier and cleaner.

I don't get the enamored feelings for C-21.

Have you even been in a Conway? The competition is so much scuzzier. C21 FTW.

[ewonder]

My guess is total liquidation is nigh--Daffy's was like Syms/Filene's Basement and so goes the way of Syms/Filene's Basement (which clears the way for Ross and Maxx Stores to more utterly dominate the sector, despite being an order of magnitude less interesting).

Century 21 is one of the best fits for Strawbridge's that I can imagine--the only ones I feel are better are the PA-based department stores (despite the difficulty in getting them).

(Century 21, in particular, would kick the skuzzy-a$$ Ross's butt next door, were it at Strawbridge's.)

The ABC Carpets concept does intrigue me--how many sf do they normally use?

ABC Carpet & Home is about 350,000 sq. ft. in NYC. They have branches in Hackensack and Florida, too. It is a very unique store with all kinds of home accessories, unusual furniture, and a tremendous carpet selection. It is a true emporium. Nothing like it here and I think people that live in the city, suburbs and the countryside would patronize a retailer such as this. One third sized for Philadelphia would be about right. The Ny store is on six or seven levels so Daffy's floorplan would be doable theoretically. They would not compete with Boyds or any other retailer that I can think of. Century 21 has been expanding and I could easily imagine that they would be interested in a location in Strawbridges. Their newer locations are very crisp and well stocked with amazing deals. Both of these retailers (as well as a Saks or Barney's) would go a long way in reenergizing the retail scene in Center City and would offer something different than already exists in KoP. In my opinion CC has made great strides in the last decade. The restaurant scene is one of the best in the country and its time for retailing to catch up. Build it and they will come to CC to shop, too.

[CenterCityGuy]

The store is trash anyway

[Jayfar]

Financial - Retail - WWD.com

July 15, 2012
Daffy's Says Good-Bye
By VICKI M. YOUNG
FROM:
WWD Issue 07/16/2012

Daffy’s, the cash-strapped off-price chain, has decided to shutter its doors.

Going-out-of-business sales will be conducted by a liquidation firm.

Sources said over the...

No more info available without a WWD subscription.

EDIT:

Actually a bit more info hidden in the metadata, which appeared when I posted the same link to FB:

"WWD has learned that the 19-unit chain, with eight stores in Manhattan, will close its doors by the end of October."

[Ray K.]

I will no longer be able to buy a pair of $530 Italian cut pants for $36.... kind of makes me sad...

[krapug1]

OK, now that we have official word that Daffy's is closing not only Chesnut Street, but the entire chain, hopefully our cities economic development people are already on top of
this (yes, I know that is being very optimistic).

The reason that I keep bringing up Saks is that they have been pairing down their store count to make each Saks 5th Avenue location a destination.
They have also pulled out of markets, like Pittsburgh, where certain designer houses no longer wished to be represented, or had their own stores in outlying malls.

What the city needs to do is dangle a carrot in front of them to lure them off City Line, and renovate the building to suit their needs (and it needs escalators just as a starting point).
To avoid the mistakes that many cities make in luring a key anchor store, they need to offer some incentives, without giving the world away.

The same could apply to Barney's (which has a revived synergy thanks to it's new CEO), or any store that would have this location as their only metro location (Von Maur perhaps).
Allison in Ardmore, might not have a reason to shop in Center City, but she would if Center City had a unique destination store.

The Daffy's building has limitless possibilities.

Ken

[philly57]

First off, this thread is too funny. Steve Harvey-esque? Pointy tipped shoes? LOL! Hilarious and true.

Look, I think we've all bought some good buys at Daffy's...and enjoyed our fair share of laughs perusing through their overcrowded racks.

I'm not so interested in what store comes here but the quality of that particular store.

Example: Our Macy's is awful compared to the ones in the suburbs. It's like we're soooo lucky to have a department store, how dare anyone complain that it's by far the junkiest one in the region. EDIT: Of course I am referring to their merchandise, selection and how at times the stuff is strewn around like a discount store; the physical structure of the building obviously draws no comparison to their suburban locations.

Marshalls on 11th? I like Marshalls as much as the next guy, but does anyone expect it to stock the same selection as you would find, in say Lafayette Hill or Willow Grove? I'll give it a pass since it's going in at 11th and Chestnut (or Market?), but I just hope, that whatever retailer fills Daffy's space, gives us a quality, well maintained shop that 17th and Chestnut deserves.

[Jayfar]

Daffy's to Liquidate All 19 Stores - WSJ.com

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article...AREL/120719920

[3rd&Brown]

ABC Carpet & Home is about 350,000 sq. ft. in NYC. They have branches in Hackensack and Florida, too. It is a very unique store with all kinds of home accessories, unusual furniture, and a tremendous carpet selection. It is a true emporium. Nothing like it here and I think people that live in the city, suburbs and the countryside would patronize a retailer such as this.

ABC already delivers to Philadelphia 2-3 times per week. I bought my sofa at ABC about 6 years ago because I wanted a smaller sized apartment sofa that wasn't a loveset but wasn't a full size couch. I found an Italian manufacturer at ABC with an entire line of custom furniture in sizes that we clipped a few inches here and there, just enough to free up the space I needed in my narrower than average home.

The kicker? It was treated as a local delivery. I think I paid something like $40 or $50 for delivery...nothing unusual (I assume the warehouse is in Jersey). I recall the sales rep telling me that the 2-3 times weekly trucks to Philly were packed.

So, there is already a market here for their stuff. The question is, is it worth it for them to come here when they can already service Philly customers easily with the setup they have.

[y.lama]

I don't have any contacts in this sector but a friend who does said she heard Bloomingdales.

[aro1419]

I don't have any contacts in this sector but a friend who does said she heard Bloomingdales.

A Bloomingdales would be amazing. We already have a less expensive department store, Macy's, and a very expensive department store, Boyds, so a Bloomingdales, which is somewhere in the middle, would really bridge this gap. Plus, if our potential Bloomingdales were to be remotely similar to the one on 3rd Ave in NYC, it would be a huge destination for tourists, locals, and even (gasp) suburbanites!!!

[Eames]

That's stylish??

LOL!!! That was my exact reaction. At first I thought they were posted as examples of the "ugly-ass OJ Simpson shoes" from the previous post.

[cccomp]

O Rue, O Woe! Where now will we find such splendid shoon: coffin-nosed confections of circus-peanut orange hue? Where, now, to adorn ourselves in parti-colored raiment such as would tempt our very own brethren to push us down a well?

[paul215]

Noooo! where am I going to buy my underwear?

[MarketStEl]

OK, now that we have official word that Daffy's is closing not only Chesnut Street, but the entire chain, hopefully our cities economic development people are already on top of
this (yes, I know that is being very optimistic).

The reason that I keep bringing up Saks is that they have been pairing down their store count to make each Saks 5th Avenue location a destination.
They have also pulled out of markets, like Pittsburgh, where certain designer houses no longer wished to be represented, or had their own stores in outlying malls.

What the city needs to do is dangle a carrot in front of them to lure them off City Line, and renovate the building to suit their needs (and it needs escalators just as a starting point).
To avoid the mistakes that many cities make in luring a key anchor store, they need to offer some incentives, without giving the world away.

The same could apply to Barney's (which has a revived synergy thanks to it's new CEO), or any store that would have this location as their only metro location (Von Maur perhaps).
Allison in Ardmore, might not have a reason to shop in Center City, but she would if Center City had a unique destination store.

The Daffy's building has limitless possibilities.

Ken

Is Von Maur interested in operating outside the Midwest?

[MarketStEl]

When I look through Daffy's shoes (and very occasionally find a pair to my liking), I'm always reminded of the infamous OJ Simpson quote, "I wouldn't own a pair of those ugly ass shoes."

I had a good experience shopping for shoes at Daffy's: A $350 pair of black Via Spiga dress loafers with a barely noticeable manufacturing defect for $80.

No pointy toes on these. They've held up well over the five years I've owned them.

I did note they seemed to have a lot of Ben Sherman shoes on their racks.

[krapug1]

Is Von Maur interested in operating outside the Midwest?

Yes, they have already opened in the metro Atlanta market, and next year they open their first location in New York, at a mall in the Rochester market.

Ken

[krapug1]

Is Von Maur interested in operating outside the Midwest?

Here is a brief interview with the President of Von Maur that was just posted.

Meet Jim von Maur! Jim is the President of Von...

Ken

[Notcom]

Here is a brief interview with the President of Von Maur that was just posted. Meet Jim von Maur! Jim is the President of Von... Ken

Q: Why did you choose a career with Von Maur?
(asked of the founder's grandson)

I'm surprised at how unimpressive this interview was (at least to me): there's homespun and sincere, then's there's just looking like an unsophisticated rube; and this seems to be the latter...it's particularly disappointing since they have developed a reputation as the Nordtrom of Iowa (or whatever). Is the rep mostly just based on hi-quality service or is it fashion forward as well??

[mixiboi]

So when can I get 50% off of the lovely Daffy's home items?