<p>The yoga-inspired apparel chain will test the Island retail market this summer with a four-month pop-up store on South Summer street in Edgartown.</p>
Is the Vineyard ready to sweat in style?
Lululemon Athletica, the yoga-inspired apparel chain, will test the proposition this summer with a four-month pop-up store on South Summer street in Edgartown.
The store opened its doors on Friday morning, and Lululemon regional manager Julie Samford and Briana Endicott, assistant manager for the Vineyard pop-up, were on hand to greet the first customers. Days earlier they had constructed tables, fixtures and dressing rooms. “All built by hand,” Ms. Samford said. A lobster trap Ms. Endicott found at her cousin’s house added a bit of Vineyard style to the light, airy space.
The store can be found at 11 South Summer, a small, boxy building with oversized windows on the commercial end of the street opposite the town parking lot. The building has housed a variety of retail operations in recent summers, including a Black Dog store and a jewelry shop.
Lululemon comes to the Island by request, Ms. Samford told the Gazette. “There was a request to open up a store here on Martha’s Vineyard,” she said. “People who shop at the Hingham store always say that it would be great to have a Lululemon on the Vineyard. So here we are. It’s unique to us that the community asked for us.”
Already she said the reception has been warm. “People are coming in and just telling us how excited they are that we are open. It’s been really great,” she said, adding: “Our focus for the summer is to really be with the community and learn from them, sweat from them, and really just have fun.”
The first sale was a pink headband. “It was really cute. The first customers were a mother and daughter. They were so excited,” Ms. Samford said.
Ms. Endicott is one of two managers who will run the store this summer, along with three other employees. “We’ve already had a couple people come in and say they are interested in working here part time,” she said on Friday, after the store had only been open for a couple of hours. “It’s really great. It’s what we are all about, working with the community.”
On that same note, Ms. Samford said: “We are going to do things with the community. We want to partner with local businesses. Running, yoga, CrossFit . . . We do a lot of goal coaching: personal career and health. And part of that is celebrating our life and enjoying all aspects of it, and we intend on sharing that with the community here.”
Lululemon has over 175 stores of different sizes open all over the world. All stores offer free hemming services and each product purchased is bagged in trademark black, red and white reusable bags with sayings on them such as: “Friends are more important than money” and “Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself.”
Ms. Samford said the Vineyard location will have its own unique feel. One difference, she said, is that the Lululemon in Edgartown will not accept cash. “Credit cards only,” she said.
As of late last week, the store had not yet made decisions regarding hours of operation. “We’re going to gauge it off the community and the surrounding stores,” Ms. Samford said. “We’re very flexible.”
Comments
What's next? Gap?
Mary G Marthas VineyardWhat's next? Gap?
I wish you nothing but
Paulli D EdgartownI wish you nothing but success! It is time that the Vienayrd get over itself of high priced junk sold to visitors and islanders.
So much for chain stores not
John TisburySo much for chain stores not allowed on the island. These evil big corporations must be stopped just like you held strong and stopped the stop and shop expansion...
I'm sorry i forgot i was on the vineyard where hypocrisy reigns.
Aren't there rules against
James P Edg/New HavenAren't there rules against chain stores like these? This is a bad precedent.
I think that Edgartown will
Joseph Paul Uranker Oak BluffsI think that Edgartown will have another quality business for everyone to shop at and enjoy vs a T-shirt shop. I wish them a great summer I look forward to seeing their apparel as I do my morning runs. Alas I run in Oak Bluffs not Edgartown.
I wish them well, but it is a
Ken Esq EdgartownI wish them well, but it is a bit disappointing to see national chains moving in to Edgartown.
If Vineyard Vines can come,
LWS OB/DCIf Vineyard Vines can come, why not LULU?
Hope they carry Men's stuff too. Great store.
Wish them well! Competition
Paul ChilmarkWish them well! Competition is healthy. What's the difference? They pay same rent, will have to pay same island labor costs and face same challenges as any other island business. It's not automatic they will succeed. Would like to also point out, Vineyard Vines is a national chain along with Black Dog!!
and Alex & Ani and Jack Wills
Donand Alex & Ani and Jack Wills...
This is NOT McDonald's or WalMart. Lighten up people.
Just saying' it seems like
Tricia Edgartown/CTJust saying' it seems like you'd be ok with Edgartown looking like downtown Greenwich or West Hampton..or any other upscale little downtown area... and there are no Walmarts in those downtowns either.
I dont think these types of niche upscale chain stores are what people want here. People come here because you can just wear your old shorts and a tshirt to hang out, or do your work out..and nobody cares if you have on chic work out clothes. Goes against pragmatic prudent Yankee principles...But chic dressing for dinner? Yes!! But that would not include Lulus either! MV isn't a "shopping destination" its a chill destination. Leave all that crap for the Hamptons. I love my Lulus!! But I can bring them with me, but why would I when its one of the last places I can run in crappy running shorts and no one cares! I say "Free Edgar!" Un-chain him! ;) LOL
It is not a fair competition
James P Edg/New HavenIt is not a fair competition when one player can use its size and scale to its advantage in a market like Martha's Vineyard. You can buy anything they sell online or one of their almost 200 stores.
Vineyard Vines and The Black Dog are national chains, but can you figure out the difference between them and this corporation?
I believe Vineyard Vines and
Ken Esq EdgartownI believe Vineyard Vines and Black Dog started here. The more chains and franchises we get here the less unique the Island becomes. I'm not wishing them bad luck, just a bit disappointed. Would a Subway and Papa Johns be okay too?
So you're allowed to bring in
Judas Oak BluffsSo you're allowed to bring in Bank of America in Edg, Jack Wills in Edg, Dairy Queen in Edg, Johnny Cupcakes (also a pop-up store-now in Edg), Clarian Hotel ("Edgartown Hotel"), J. McLaughlin in Edg, In the Pink by Lily Pulitzer in Edg, and Stop and Shops. Or even Soft as a Grape...
I believe we should limit the chains we have here, but at this point we have a chain in every major marketplace that is drawing people away from island business owners. The issue here isn't a Lululemon.
Now how about one in Falmouth
Mo FalmouthNow how about one in Falmouth????
Vineyard Vines and Black Dog
Tricia Edgartown/CTVineyard Vines and Black Dog were home grown here and expanded elsewhere. I have no idea why DQ is here or Jack Wills, or Alex and Ani. Stop and Shop is here bc nobody else could do a grocery store with the variety of goods they provide us. In the Pink is a guy that owns a few small boutique clothing stores in the northeast...that happens to sell some Lily Pulitzer as well as other clothing..and not owned by Lily Pulitzer...so its not a chain store. Look every one loves the brand Lululemon! The thing is that I can go visit a Lululemon store like anywhere! Why here? I can buy them online, or bring them with me... so Im pretty sure I can live without them for the months I am visiting during the summer. One of the reasons we all love MV is because there AREN"T Lululemon stores and the like here! Where else can you go that isnt covered in branded chain stores however tasteful or small or "niche" ? Why here? Why now? Do the full time residents want these stores? IF so then who am I to say...But I just dont get it. What makes the island so special is its uniqueness. And it is very unique...rare even ...to go somewhere... anywhere...that hasn't been over run with chain stores. That is a big part of what were all escaping from...but apparently not for long!!!
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