By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — Madison Avenue is logging more openings than Broadway with 19 new stores setting up shop in the first six months of 2010.
The luxury outlets range from galleries such as David Benrimmon Fine Art at East 65th Street to established international brands including the new Hermes Men's Store at East 62nd Street.
"Virtually every niche in the luxury marketplace is represented among our latest arrivals," said Matthew Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District, in a statement.
Although the the district saw the closure of both the Emanuel Ungaro and Issey Miyaki stores in the last year, new outlets for luxury brands quickly snapped up the vacant storefronts.
Carolina Herrera, for example, will open up her CH by Carolina Herrera line at the location vacated by Miyaki at East 68th Street and Madison Avenue.
At the former Ungaro location on East 68th Street, a "Coming Soon" coverall featuring a smiling Carmen Kass advertises the new Michael Kors.
The new location will leave Kors with three Madison Avenue outlets, including a lifestyle shop on East 61st Street and a collection boutique on East 77th Street.
In addition to the new stores, Longchamp and David Yurman both finished expansions at East 63rd Street. The vamped up stores draw foot traffic to the lower part of the shopping district, which begins at East 57th Street.
Much of the movement on Madison comes from large retailers opening a second storefront on the street. Herrera already has store at 954 Madison Ave. and the Hermes for Men Store on East 62nd Street sits across the street from the label's women's store.
A relative newcomer to the street, J. Crew announced it would open a men's outlet on East 79th Street this August, three months after the opening of its bridal boutique.
The store would sit across the street from J. Crew's women's store and next to both the brand's bridal boutique and children's store, NBC New York reported.
