Back in January, United Colors of Benetton announced it would close its store at 1666 Connecticut Avenue, just off Dupont Circle. Racked DC reports that the high-end boutique Emporium DNA will take its place, and is slated to open in early March.
Emporium, a curator of nearly 100 contemporary designer labels, has its other outposts in party cities Las Vegas and Atlantic City—making Washington an unusual choice for its latest store. But we’re not complaining. It will bring an impressive lineup of brands not found elsewhere in Dupont: women’s apparel by Marc by Marc Jacobs, Clover Canyon, and Equipment, to name a few, as well as shoes, handbags, and men’s items by brands of equal caliber. Reactions to the change in storefront have been mixed, but we’re intrigued by the idea of a department store selection served up in a boutique environment.
Word is the store plans to fete its arrival with an opening party in mid-March. It’s just one among a slew of new apparel and accessories retailers arriving in the city in the coming months: Longchamp, Kate Spade, and Zadig & Voltaire are en route to the closely watched CityCenterDC; H&M will soon take over the former Filene’s Basement space farther down Connecticut Ave.
Emporium DNA. 1666 Connecticut Ave., NW. Opening in early March.
