Worth Avenue, Royal Poinciana Plaza, other retailers expecting a 'very strong season'

With residents returning from Europe and other destinations and tourists from around the globe descending on the island, Palm Beach retailers from Worth Avenue to South County Road and The Royal Poinciana Plaza say they are looking forward to a stellar season they expect to be one of the busiest ever.

“The island is crazy. You can already start feeling the energy that is coming into the island. It is going to be a very strong season. They say when you see the auto carriers, they are here,” said Frank Steinhart, president of the Worth Avenue Association.

“Ever since the pandemic, we‘ve seen an increase in both new residents and visitors. People have realized the benefits of living in Palm Beach, and we welcome all of them on Worth Avenue,” said Steinhart, who is production manager of the family-owned shoe store Stubbs & Wootton at 340 Worth Ave.

Palm Beach is impacted by the entire area’s growth, especially that of fast-growing West Palm Beach, Steinhart said. Tourism also brings customers to Palm Beach’s shops and restaurants.

At an Oct. 11 meeting at The Colony, more than 75 Worth Avenue Association members heard a presentation from Discover the Palm Beaches. The nonprofit official marketing corporation for Palm Beach County is receiving 30% of this year’s $84 million in bed taxes collected for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

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From January through August, 3.24 million room nights were sold in Palm Beach County, up from 3.16 million in 2022, said Heather Andrews, the agency’s assistant vice president of community engagement. A record-breaking  9.2 million people visited Palm Beach County in 2022, up from 7.94 million in 2021, and this year the number is expected to reach 9.5 million.

While the agency promotes the entire county and did not have any statistics just for the town’s tourism, internationally known Palm Beach is a favorite spot visited by many tourists.

Discover the Palm Beaches has targeted Palm Beach-specific marketing that boasts, “If you haven’t been to Worth Avenue, you’ve never been to Palm Beach.” Both Worth Avenue and The Royal Poinciana Plaza are featured on its website, in print and on social media platforms.

A video of Rick Rose, the Worth Avenue Association’s historian who leads its walking tours, has garnered more than 252,000 views cross several platforms. It can be seen as a reel on the Discover the Palm Beaches Instagram page.

The biggest growth in the county’s tourism is in international visitors, with those from Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil and Mexico at the top of the list. This year, 436,000 international visitors are expected to visit the Palm Beaches.

Worth Avenue

Marley Herring, owner of women’s clothing store Marley’s Palm Beach Collection, 256 Worth Ave. in Via Amore, is looking forward to a great season.

“I think people will be in the mood to shop. Palm Beach is an extension of Europe. People have been to Europe over the summer, and they are ready to live their lives. Everybody is getting out,” Herring said.

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Palm Beach has long been home to businesses that originated in Europe. Frascione Gallery, founded in Florence, Italy, in 2009, is opening its first U.S. location off Worth Avenue in Via Amore in late October.

“We came here during COVID. We discovered the area,” said Daisy Diaz, director of Frascione Gallery. “We specialize in 15th- and 16th-century art.” The gallery features a collection of Old Master paintings, showcases Renaissance, modern and contemporary artists, and is known for selling to museums worldwide.

Making its debut on Worth Avenue this season is Versace, opening soon at 243 Worth Ave., said Robert Klecinsky, director of retail services for real estate broker Cushman & Wakefield in Palm Beach. Versace has 25 stores in the United States, including one in Boca Raton. The late Italian designer Giovanni Maria “Gianni” Versace opened his first boutique in Milan in 1978.

Poupette St. Barth, a women’s and girls’ clothing boutique, is slated to open in November at 237 Worth Ave. Its other shops are in France, Greece, East Hampton, Southampton and Central Valley, New York, and Houston.

Yvonne Jones, director of property management for O’Connor Capital Partners, said last season's business at the Esplanade, 150 Worth Ave., was “very positive” for retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Emilio Pucci and others.

“We are looking forward to a better season this year and are already seeing an increase in traffic,” Jones said.

Lugano Diamonds is taking the former 4,500-square-foot Gucci space in the Esplanade and expects to open in November. Lugano, which opened its first store in Newport Beach, California, in 2005, has been on the second floor of the Truist Bank building at 125 Worth Ave. The jeweler, in Palm Beach since 2017, wanted a ground-floor presence.

Gucci moved to 225 Worth Ave. and in April opened in the former Brooks Brothers location after renovations.

Carolina Herrera plans to open in November in the former Louis Vuitton space in the Esplanade. Venezuelan-born Carolina Herrera, one of the world’s most distinguished designers, opened her first flagship boutique in New York in 1981. The 2,200-square-foot Palm Beach store will feature its women’s ready-to-wear collection and accessories.

J. McLaughlin Men’s is expected to open Nov. 1 in 480 square feet on the first floor next to Starbuck’s. J. McLaughlin already operates a shop at 225 Worth Ave. that primarily sells women’s clothing and accessories.

J. Mclaughlin, founded in 1977 by brothers Kevin and Jay McLaughlin, specializes in effortless and enduring styles with a modern twist. It has more than 1,700 stores nationwide.

Jones said the Esplanade has been moving away from retail on its second floor. Real estate firms Compass Real Estate and The Silverman Group are locating on the second floor. A new lease is being negotiated for the remaining 1,100 square feet that will bring the Esplanade to 100% occupancy.

The Esplanade’s $3 million roof-deck parking replacement is 85% complete. The balance of the work, consisting of the far east portion, will be completed in summer 2024. Renovations of second-floor restrooms, open to the tenants and the public, will be finished by the end of November.

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Jones said she is retiring at the end of this year. Mark Gianquitti, who works as general manager of Canal Place in New Orleans for O’Connor, will be the new director of management for O’Connor Capital Partners.

The Breakers

John Zoller, senior vice president of retail operations at The Breakers, said the resort’s top international feeder markets are Canada, Western Europe and Latin America. It works with partners such as the overseas offices of Discover the Palm Beaches and Visit Florida, travel agencies, tour operators and others.

The Breakers retail collection, including shops at The Breakers and the Breakers-owned shops at Via Flagler, once again experienced a record season, with a 4.6% increase in sales over the summer of 2022, Zoller said.

“Our retail ventures at The Shops of The Breakers and Via Flagler have had a busy summer, and the retail division anticipates another strong showing this season,” he said. “As we observe the progression of business levels over the last few years, we no longer consider summer to be 'off season,' but more like season, and the winter period on par with 'super season.'"

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“Our new and renovated stores Absolutely Suitable, Guerlain and Polo Ralph Lauren Kids led the pack in sales growth,” Zoller said. “With the new renovation of Absolutely Suitable, all collections within the store experienced amazing growth. SHAN’s Oceane Collection, with bright aqua solids, and an aqua and black sophisticated print, was our most popular.”

The Ralph Lauren Kids boutique at The Breakers is one of only two in the U.S. The other one is on Madison Avenue in New York City. “Since opening, we have earned an immediate loyal following, especially in the layette-gifting business, and we have sold over 500 units of The Breakers’ exclusive print from our bespoke collection,” Zoller said.

The Guerlain Haute Parfumerie, one of only five locations in North America to feature the experience, finished its fiscal year with a 39% increase in sales, Zoller said.

South County Road

South County Road businesses made it through a laid-back summer as people escaped the heat and traveled to cooler climates.

Abby Bessenroth, who opened women’s boutique Abby’s on the Island three years ago at 311 S. County Road, said business was great last season and went a little longer than usual.

“Summer was very quiet. People were back to traveling. This was really the first summer (since COVID) that people were going to Europe in full force and really getting out of here,” Bessenroth said. 'That being said, I do see people coming back. It is not like the traffic of season, but the regulars are coming back. We are definitely geared up and ready for a busy season.”

Abby’s on the Island updated the store over the summer, installing all-new flooring for a light, airy vibe. Bessenroth also added special shelving for the shop’s denim lines. “Denim is lacking on the island. Denim skirts and jeans are very popular now,” Bessenroth said.

New businesses have opened on County Road, and more are debuting soon.

Cocoon Gallery, a purveyor of custom organic furniture and décor, plans to open in an 1,800-square-foot space in  December at 410 S. County Road. The location marks the second Florida showroom for the company, which moved from its original location in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Naples in 2020.

Cocoon features one-of-a-kind pieces of functional art, the company said. Founder Mitchell Siegel holds an exclusive permit to import exotic species of wood from Southeast Asia, Brazil, and other places. In addition to a 25,000-square-foot warehouse in Naples, Cocoon will also have a warehouse in West Palm Beach.

Julia Amory, a lifestyle and home goods store, opened in October 2022 at 210 Sunset Ave. in a joint space with Caitlin Kah Interiors. In early October of this year it opened in a bigger space at 308 S. County Road. It offers linens, accessories and clothing created on cotton using block printing, one of the slowest and oldest methods of printing in India.

Jennifer Balcos, an art gallery with locations in Atlanta and the Serenbe community in Chattahootchee Hills, Georgia, expects to open by the end of October at 292 S. County Road, said owner Jennifer Balcos. The gallery specializes in midcareer to established artists around the world. In December, the gallery will be launching a new artist from Paris.

“We are very thrilled to expand our galleries to Palm Beach,” Balcos said. “I’ve always wanted to live by the water, and what is there not to love about Palm Beach? We have a strong existing client base in South Florida coupled with my passion to help promote and expand our collector base.”

The Royal Poinciana Plaza

The Royal Poinciana Plaza, known as The Royal, 340 Royal Poinciana Way, also had outstanding business last season and expects that trend to continue this season. With 31 retail shops, five restaurants, and three art galleries, it is fully leased, said general manager Lori Berg.

“2023 is one of the most successful years The Royal has experienced, and we look forward to continuing that positive trajectory into 2024 and beyond,” Berg said. “Over the last three years, we have seen continuous growth, and we expect to see the same.”

The Royal is welcoming three new tenants this season: Miron Crosby, Thom Browne and Staud.

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Miron Crosby, a Dallas-based cowboy boot brand, opened Oct. 6. Founded in 2017 by sisters Lizzie Means Duplantis and Sarah Means, Miron Crosby has opened an extended pop-up store in 2,468 square feet in the Hibel House building at 150 Royal Poinciana Way.

Thom Browne, a New York City-based luxury fashion brand, is expected to open in November, and Staud, a Los Angeles-based lifestyle brand, is set for a December opening. Berg said management is most excited about opening and sharing the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Waterfront restaurant and seven new retail locations in the coming months.

Jay Hartington, owner and CEO of Marissa Collections, which opened its Palm Beach store in 2021, is expanding the shop to the second floor, previously occupied by a stockbroker and a private family office. He expects the new space to open in December.

“The second floor will become a 5,000-square-foot Palm Beach Penthouse expansion featuring a one-of-a-kind elevated client experience including private VIP rooms, chef table, lounge bar and a lot more,” Hartington said. “We are excited to continue to build our Palm Beach reputation as the special occasion shopping destination and expand our footprint within sportswear and event-driven attire, and of course, jewelry, jewelry, jewelry.”

Special events are popular in Palm Beach, and this fall will bring plenty.

Events scheduled for Worth Avenue include the tree lighting on Nov. 28, Santa Strolls on Saturdays in December, and a Floral Fridays promotion, also in December. Shoppers who buy merchandise from Worth Avenue Association member shops will have an opportunity to create a holiday wreath.

The Royal will be bringing back its event series, Après Beach, to be held every Sunday in November. Bookable cabanas are available for a limited time starting Nov. 5. The Royal’s Holiday Reveal is set for Nov. 30.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach merchants expecting record business this season