Daffy's to close

**Jayfar** · 07-12-2012, 08:18 PM

Ugh!

Apparently the entire Daffy's chain is in a bad way.

philebrity.com » Blog Archive » Say It Ain’t So: 17th And Chestnut Daffy’s To Close

The Future of Daffy's Is Looking a Little Grim - Trouble Brewing - Racked NY

Daffy's not paying its bills | Crain's NY Business

**firething** · 07-12-2012, 09:50 PM

LOL @ philebrity article:

"Daffy’s, which really did seem to put more effort into their window displays than you could reasonably expect from a place where nearly every piece of menswear prompted the question, “Am I really Steve Harvey enough to wear this?”"

Nonetheless, they had amazing men's socks and I bought many a fun winter scarf there.

Bye Bye Daffy's. You were no Filene's Basement, Lohmann's (sp?), or Century 21, but I loved you anyway.

**jas.** · 07-12-2012, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by firething

LOL @ philebrity article:
Bye Bye Daffy's. You were no Filene's Basement, Lohmann's (sp?), or Century 21, but I loved you anyway.

remember that time that loehmann's was here for like six months on chestnut street, and it was like 10 times smaller and crappier than any loehmann's anywhere else?

**BarryG** · 07-12-2012, 10:20 PM

Well that sucks.

But it's a great space. Let's move on to speculation about what will move in.

**aro1419** · 07-12-2012, 10:54 PM

This space would be great for a new department store. If a new department store were to move into this building there would be new hope for Chestnut St.

**BarryG** · 07-12-2012, 10:56 PM

isn't it kind of small for a modern department store? Anyway there is nothing wrong with that stretch of chestnut at all. If a quality retailer doesnt move it, there will be though.

**Jayfar** · 07-12-2012, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

isn't it kind of small for a modern department store? Anyway there is nothing wrong with that stretch of chestnut at all. If a quality retailer doesnt move it, there will be though.

Daffy's uses about 5 or 6 floors. I forget how many additional floors it has.

EDIT:

Looks like at least 8 floors:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=17th+...br7VgFkNjPXg4w

**ewonder** · 07-13-2012, 01:55 AM

Love to see a Saks or a Bloomingdales (like the well edited version in Soho). This is a fabulous location that appears to have great demographics and could pull shoppers in from the suburbs as well. Hopefully the powers-that-be court a top retailer that can enhance the retailing landscape in Center City. I think the store must be at least 100,000 sq. ft. on 7 or eight floors which would make it very similar in size to Bllomingdales in Soho and large enough for a smaller scale iteration of Saks. Hate to see this location go to a Target or a low budget retailer that belongs on Market East. I fondly remember this location as Bonwit Tellers which was a wonderful department store in its day. Just hope the building isnt sub-divided like most if not all of the old department store buildings in CC.

**krapug1** · 07-13-2012, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by ewonder

Love to see a Saks or a Bloomingdales (like the well edited version in Soho). This is a fabulous location that appears to have great demographics and could pull shoppers in from the suburbs as well. Hopefully the powers-that-be court a top retailer that can enhance the retailing landscape in Center City. I think the store must be at least 100,000 sq. ft. on 7 or eight floors which would make it very similar in size to Bllomingdales in Soho and large enough for a smaller scale iteration of Saks. Hate to see this location go to a Target or a low budget retailer that belongs on Market East. I fondly remember this location as Bonwit Tellers which was a wonderful department store in its day. Just hope the building isnt sub-divided like most if not all of the old department store buildings in CC.

Back in the day, that location of Bonwit Teller was the chains longest operating location, and was ranked in their top 5 in terms of sales volume.
It would be a perfect location for Saks (Saks branches tend to be on the smaller scale), or as mentioned a Soho style Bloomingdale's, or for that matter Lord and Taylor.
One of the new stores that L & T just opened in Westchester County, NY is 80,000. sq/ft. In the case of Saks, or L & T it would give either chain a reason to leave City Line Avenue.

As for the "off-price" route, it could work with a Nordstrom Rack, or a Century-21.
As for Century-21, it has been expanding, and one of their locations in downtown Morristown, NJ is housed in a former, historic location of Bamberger's.
In the case of this location, C-21 uses the entire building and kept the landmark exterior in tact.

The SHOULD be a great opportunity.

Ken

**hammersklavier** · 07-13-2012, 08:54 AM

The building has 8 floors and a basement. In addition, I think they could (theoretically) expand into the disused upper floors of the Greble Building next door--floors which have no other convenient point of access.

AFAIK Bonwit's had 100k sf. So we'll be looking at courting retailers who can use 100k-~130k sf (if part of the Greble property can be folded in). Saks and Lord & Taylor, both of whom have aging locations on City Line Ave., could work if the intention is to go high-end; I personally think Century 21 is a better "fit" for the property, given the way they handle their Lower Manhattan ex-bank flagship and Morristown location (per krapug). Either way works: Saks-end directly competes with Boyd's a block away and C21 fills the same niche Daffy's has been.

A dark horse? Barney's. Their Ritt Sq. Co-op has apparently been a smashing success, and I wouldn't be surprised if they've been scouting for full-sized spaces nearby.

**CountFunkula** · 07-13-2012, 11:47 AM

1. Timberland Boot Company shoes for $49
2. Mabitex pants for $29.99
3. Paul and Shark jacket for $69 - normally $1200
4. Ben Sherman pants for $29.
5. Lacoste belt - $19.99
6. Ties for next to nothing that would cost over $100 elsewhere.

If you knew what you were doing, that place was a gold mine.

I had noticed recently that the quality went down and they did bring a lot of crappy Banana Republic outlet pants into the mix which wasn't exactly their mission.

However, I did buy a lot of stuff there. And even though the staff wasn't exactly friendly, I will really miss sorting through overstuffed racks at Daffy's.

**krapug1** · 07-13-2012, 12:32 PM

According to this article the square footage of the building is just over 107,000. sq/ft.

Daffy's Philadelphia Outpost Closes Its Doors Sept. 30th - Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes - Curbed Philly

**theREALalesis** · 07-13-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by ewonder

love to see a saks or a bloomingdales (like the well edited version in soho). This is a fabulous location that appears to have great demographics and could pull shoppers in from the suburbs as well. Hopefully the powers-that-be court a top retailer that can enhance the retailing landscape in center city. I think the store must be at least 100,000 sq. Ft. On 7 or eight floors which would make it very similar in size to bllomingdales in soho and large enough for a smaller scale iteration of saks. Hate to see this location go to a target or a low budget retailer that belongs on market east. I fondly remember this location as bonwit tellers which was a wonderful department store in its day. Just hope the building isnt sub-divided like most if not all of the old department store buildings in cc.

flash mobs

**theREALalesis** · 07-13-2012, 01:18 PM

1. Timberland Boot Company shoes for $49
2. Mabitex pants for $29.99
3. Paul and Shark jacket for $69 - normally $1200
4. Ben Sherman pants for $29.
5. Lacoste belt - $19.99
6. Ties for next to nothing that would cost over $100 elsewhere.

If you knew what you were doing, that place was a gold mine.

Every item you mentioned was most likely at least one or two seasons old stock. Get thee to Macy's, you cheapskate!

**Dolemite** · 07-13-2012, 01:51 PM

I talked to a larger developer about 6 years ago and he told he tried to buy the building . I believe he said the owner was a family and the matriarch was a PITA to deal with. He wanted to turn it to all residential.

**rks** · 07-13-2012, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by firething

Nonetheless, they had amazing men's socks and I bought many a fun winter scarf there.

I agree...the BEST men's socks selection!! I'm gonna have to stock up!!

**Eames** · 07-13-2012, 02:22 PM

Up until a year or two ago, I never went in there that I didn't walk out with something. Not so on my last couple trips there. Lately the quality, selection, and style-factor (of the men's clothes at least) has deteriorated, so it's not a surprise to hear they are on the brink. I've already mourned the loss of the Daffy's I once knew, so I'm ready to move on. Century 21 sounds like an amazing addition. It was always like a Daffy's on roids.

**Notcom** · 07-13-2012, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by krapug1

According to this article the square footage of the building is just over 107,000. sq/ft. Daffy's Philadelphia Outpost Closes Its Doors Sept. 30th - Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes - Curbed Philly

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but the problem/issue isn't the buidling size, per se, it's the small size of the floorplates: 107Kgsf over 8 or 9 floors is about 10-12,000 gsf/floor, which I imagine would be only be about 1/2 to 1/3 of what even a smallish Saks or bloomingdales would want (not to mention the first and obvious point that no one has produced one molecule of evidence that they're interested) It could work for a store like BWT (at least up until the point that it didn't work any more and they closed) because it was a series of salons and boutiques that didn't need to relate to one another...few - if any - stores operate that way anymore.

**OffenseTaken** · 07-13-2012, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by theREALalesis

1. Timberland Boot Company shoes for $49
2. Mabitex pants for $29.99
3. Paul and Shark jacket for $69 - normally $1200
4. Ben Sherman pants for $29.
5. Lacoste belt - $19.99
6. Ties for next to nothing that would cost over $100 elsewhere.

If you knew what you were doing, that place was a gold mine.

Every item you mentioned was most likely at least one or two seasons old stock. Get thee to Macy's, you cheapskate!

I don't meant to pick on you personally, but why do so many people have a problem with the "Reply With Quote" button, and just copy/paste the text they're replying to? It always sounds like the poster is having a fight with himself, and I have to read it four or five times to figure out whether he's schizophrenic, or my comprehension just sucks. It's happened, like, four times this week.

**thoth** · 07-13-2012, 03:36 PM

I agree, got brand new tims for $60. Definitely a lot of junky, Steve Harvey-esque stuff, but some good values.

Originally Posted by CountFunkula

1. Timberland Boot Company shoes for $49
2. Mabitex pants for $29.99
3. Paul and Shark jacket for $69 - normally $1200
4. Ben Sherman pants for $29.
5. Lacoste belt - $19.99
6. Ties for next to nothing that would cost over $100 elsewhere.

If you knew what you were doing, that place was a gold mine.

I had noticed recently that the quality went down and they did bring a lot of crappy Banana Republic outlet pants into the mix which wasn't exactly their mission.

However, I did buy a lot of stuff there. And even though the staff wasn't exactly friendly, I will really miss sorting through overstuffed racks at Daffy's.