New York has some of the most sophisticated and entertaining stores in the world, encouraging retailers to offer a range of elevated experiences and luxury services.

Some brands are including art pieces as part of their in-store design and offering bespoke services, while others form partnerships with other well-known brands to create new fun products. We are continuing to see retailers expanding beyond the product range they are known for, adding cafes and activation rooms. We also discovered a unique store that sells nothing this month.

Read on for all the latest in retail in New York.

Image credit: Banana Republic

Banana Republic, SoHo

Fashion retailer Banana Republic has opened a refreshed flagship store in New York City.

The store design evokes art and culture, with luxurious Venetian plaster used as materials and paintings, sculptures and photography throughout.

Visitors can find womenswear, including an expanded range of vintage items and a cashmere area, on the first floor. Here customers will also find a specially curated selection of candles and art books. The second floor contains the menswear department and a variety of services, such as tailoring, embroidery and wrapping.

Banana Republic has also launched its new homeware concept, BR Home Penthouse Apartment. This is a special showroom laid out like an apartment, with interior design experts available to book for appointments.

Hoka, Manhattan

Footwear brand Hoka has launched its second store in New York City as a flagship.

The store design evokes the Alps and includes the full Hoka range of footwear for different outdoor activities. Hoka has also expanded to include a selection of clothing, which the brand will be watching the performance of.

Immersive experiences can also be found here, including precise digital services for foot measurements and an interactive display for a variety of products. The athletic community is served with a downstairs hub to meet with each other and enjoy a range of events.

Image credit: Kith

Kith Kids, Brooklyn

Kith, the fashion and lifestyle brand, has launched a new store aimed at kids.

The space is light pink and airy, with Kith monograms and cloud designs throughout. There is a range of Kith Kids clothing, including a collection created by the brand that celebrates the location. Kith Kids Dumbo features designs reflecting Manhattan and Dumbo on hoodies, caps and t-shirts. Kith has also collaborated with Disney on an exclusive collection of t-shirts and hoodies that display Disney inspired prints.

The location includes a familiar section in all Kith stores: Kith Treats. The Kith Treats store offers a range of ice-cream, including vanilla or vanilla and chocolate with syrup, cereal and sweets, exclusive to this location.

Ground Up Experience Room, NYC

The headquarters of fun footwear brand Ground Up has a new addition in the form of an Experience Room.

The space is aimed at both kids and adults alike, for children to connect with branded characters they recognise and adults to feel nostalgic. The room contains a number of branded expansive displays from Disney, Barbie and Sonic, with special items such as Sonic gold rings in a vault.

Customers can also purchase other items, such as personalised sweets at the Sweeten’ Up space or Ground Up products like tote bags, water bottles and its range of footwear.

Image credit: The RealReal

The RealReal Counterfeit Store, NYC

Luxury reseller The RealReal has launched an intriguing new pop-up store in New York, where you cannot buy anything.

The store is actually an installation designed to educate visitors about the problems of counterfeit products. The RealReal dedicates a significant amount of time to removing these items from the reseller market.

The space is designed to resemble a real store, with a window display of luxury bags that look very realistic but are all fakes. The brand is planning to hold a series of events to discuss authenticity and encourage people to hand in counterfeit bags. Those that do will have a chance to win real luxury items.