Once upon a time, J. McLaughlin was one of Main Street’s many clothing stores.
That space didn’t work out.
About a year and a half ago, though, the store — described by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a place “where you can get wasp cufflinks and where men’s socks are called ‘hosiery'” — returned to Westport.
The new spot was a couple of miles away on Post Road East, opposite Arcudi’s Aux Delices.
The Post Road East store. (Images/WWD)
Racked.com noted the event:
New Yorkers know J. McLaughlin for its tiny, preppy stores on the Upper East Side and in Brooklyn Heights. But in Westport, Connecticut, the chain has opened a store that’s five times the size of the typical McLaughlin space.
The 5,500-square-foot shop is organized like a bazaar, with stalls based on themes like resortwear and nautical gear. This “street of shops” concept lets merchandisers have fun with details—in one area, for example, the brightly patterned Catalina tee sits surrounded by equally busy wallpaper swathes. It also lets the brand experiment with different kinds of merchandise, including an urban line that WWD describes as “modern, clean, [and] toned-down,” words that don’t usually apply to McLaughlin’s cheerfully deranged, too-much-gin-at-the-regatta aesthetic.
Apparently though, that space didn’t work either.
A sales clerk said they’re closing July 15. She did not give any more details, and said there was no manager in the store to talk.
Perhaps the 3rd time’s the charm.
