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Denim Habit, Shorty's and Lulu & Me Are Open for Business

By Mary Johnson | November 23, 2011 3:37pm

OPENINGS:

Denim Habit, a haven for jean lovers, has opened stores across the city, including one at 525 Third Avenue in Murray Hill, according to Racked NY. The company, which calls itself a “stylish and trendy store for fashion-forward girls,” carries high-end denim brands like J Brand, DL1961 and Hudson. In addition to the Murray Hill location, Denim Habit also has outposts in the Meatpacking District and on the Upper East Side.

A new restaurant called Lulu & Me has opened on Fifth Avenue and 28th Street. The restaurant, which touts itself as a “gastrobar,” was founded by a husband-and-wife team who also own Amsterdam’s Bar & Rotisserie, The Metro Grill and Mé Bar. Lulu & Me will serve beer, wine and cocktails, and the food “will reflect the many flavors of New York and be served in small plates,” according to the restaurant’s website.

Zagat reported that a second location of Shorty’s, a beloved cheesesteak joint, has opened on Madison Avenue between East 27th and East 28th streets in Murray Hill. The restaurant, which also as a location in Midtown, gets the bread for its famed sandwiches fresh from Philadelphia every day and bakes it every hour in the restaurant’s ovens. That bread, the chain swears, is what makes Shorty’s cheesesteaks the most authentic in New York City.

Interior design chain CB2 has opened a new location at the renowned Decoration and Design Building on Third Avenue between East 58th and East 59th streets. The store offers a reasonably priced alternative to some of the D&D Building’s swankier showrooms. “We’re introducing something that’s more youthful and young to our street showrooms,” said Ashlee Harrison, director of marketing for the D&D Building. “[The addition of CB2] speaks to the demand that some of the designers are requesting right now.”

Good news for ladies looking for more advice in the brassiere department. Bra expert Linda Becker has opened a second location of her lingerie store on Third Avenue between East 36th and East 37th streets. “My mission has been to help women of all sizes find bras that actually fit them, look great, and help them feel comfortable and confident,” Becker wrote on her website. Becker’s store also stocks plenty of other unmentionables, including swimwear, shapewear and sleepwear.

COMING SOON:

There has been much buzz about the opening of a new Apple store inside Grand Central Terminal, including a flurry of gossip earlier this week that the shop could be opening on Black Friday. But alas, several reports have surfaced indicating that is unlikely to happen—although the store could open before Christmas. The MTA approved the store’s location inside the transportation hub this summer. At the time, an Apple spokesman said, "our four stores in Manhattan are incredibly popular with customers, and we're excited to bring the Apple retail experience to this incredible location."

British clothing brand Ted Baker is getting ready to open a 12,000-square-foot flagship store at 595 Fifth Avenue near East 48th Street, The Real Deal reported. Ted Baker, which will replace Sprint in that location, has two other stores in the city, one on Grand Street and the other on Little West 12th Street. "Fifth Avenue represents a very exciting chapter in the development of the Ted Baker brand, and we are creating a truly stunning and imaginative store," Ray Kelvin, founder and CEO of Ted Baker, told the magazine.

CLOSING:

After filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this month, the parent company of Filene’s Basement has said it will close the two Filene’s locations in New York City, including one in Union Square. The closures are scheduled to take place some time in January.