New York is known for its vibrant community and culture, which this month’s stores have been leaning into.

Some stores are chasing particular niches or hobby groups, such as creatives and artists, and providing services and galleries in-store. This demonstrates the continuing interest in broadening retail away from simple product space, to cultural spaces where people may want to spend more time.

Stores are also making use of technology and data to better serve customers in the area. This can both be looking at local trends to influence products stocked, as well as using location data to speed up orders.

Finally, we are continuing to see online brands make steps into the real world, hoping to tap into growing interest in physical spaces, as well as attracting new customers.

Take a look at the latest trends happening in retail stores in New York this month.

Ana Luisa, SoHo

Online jewellery brand Ana Luisa has opened its first brick-and-mortar space.

The brand is popular online with younger people interested in affordable sustainable jewellery.

The physical space offers an opportunity to connect with more customers via foot traffic. The brand plans to continue connecting with the online community it has built, using a variety of special events. There are monthly IRL sessions, exclusive offers for members of the loyalty scheme, and personalisation options only available in-store.

Ana Luisa has not forgotten the influencers and creators it has built a network with, holding private sessions for this group.

Image credit: Garden of Eden

Garden of Eden, Gramercy Park

Food retailer Garden of Eden has launched its third store in New York, in the area where the first store opened.

Garden of Eden is celebrating 30 years of its store and aims to continue providing the same service to customers as it did all those years ago. Customers will find a range of fresh foods, including meat and cheeses, and baked products. The store is also looking at local food preferences and trends and using those to choose specialty items, such as an extensive selection of olive oil.

Local customers can take advantage of free deliveries, and there are a range of discounts offered for students, first responders and senior citizens.

Image credit: Leica

Leica, Meatpacking District

Camera brand Leica has launched its new flagship in New York.

The flagship is designed to be a space to appeal to the city’s photographers and creatives. When entering, visitors can expect to find the full range of Leica cameras and accessories, as well as the new laser TV, Cine 1. The store also contains a gallery, which displays exhibitions from a variety of photographers, from established to up-and-coming.

On the next floor, photographers can gain inspiration from a library of photography books, curated by photographers. There is also studio space available to test a range of Leica products and services.

Image credit: Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A, Upper East Side

A new dining concept has been launched in New York from popular fast food retailer Chick-fil-A.

The brand opened its first pickup store where customers can make an order for delivery online or via the mobile app. The store makes use of geofencing, which provides information to the store about when customers are arriving to help ensure orders are ready quickly.

Unlike other Chick-fil-A locations, this store will have no place for in-store dining or any seating. It is focused on speeding up the online order and delivery process. There will be boards that display information about the orders, so that waiting customers and delivery drivers will know when the order is ready.

In honour of the store opening, Chick-fil-A celebrated 100 local heroes doing good for the community, and awarded them free Chick-fil-A entrees for a year.