Will Wynwood lose its cool quotient? More chains are coming in early 2021
Despite a focus on home-grown brands, Wynwood is getting a new trio of national names.
Foot Locker, Sweetgreen and bridal shop Grace Loves Lace plan to open by March, said Albert Garcia, chairperson of the Wynwood Business Improvement District. Foot Locker and Sweetgreen will be located at 2621 NW Second Ave., while Grace Loves Lace is opening at 310 NW 25th St., according to plans submitted to the Wynwood Design Review Committee in January.
The neighborhood’s independent vibe comes from street art and small retailers like 1-800 Lucky, the Salty Donut, the Wynwood Walls and Zak the Baker. But Wynwood is also home to several national chains and restaurants, including It’Sugar, eyewear brand Warby Parker and WeWork.
Attracting independents is still a priority, Garcia said. Wynwood has about 400 retailers, he said, and the Wynwood BID continues to fill existing and new commercial space with small vendors or, at least, chains that can provide unique offerings.
“People don’t come to Wynwood to rediscover what they have in their backyard. They come to find something that is uniquely Wynwood,” Garcia said. “We’re open for all but, if you’re coming to use a copy-and-paste model, be aware that the customer is going to be judge and jury of what is going to work.”
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Wynwood’s foot traffic continues to draw new tenants, Garcia said. Prior to the pandemic, Wynwood had about 400,000 visitors per month in 2019, with numbers reaching about 500,000 per month in early 2020 due to Super Bowl LIV. The number of visitors dropped after the pandemic but crept up to 100,000 per month in December.
“Foot traffic is a big motivator,” Garcia said. “Foot traffic is the oxygen for these brick and mortar retailers.”
The Wynwood BID aims to eventually surpass its monthly pre-pandemic foot traffic numbers with a new streetscape plan, which includes widening the sidewalks throughout the neighborhood.
“All of the businesses pivoted to this new model where they are offering outdoor propositions to shop or dine. That is going to continue even on the other side of the pandemic,” Garcia said. “You’re going to see a lot more street closures and put the emphasis on the pedestrian experience.”
He said the design should draw more shops — big and small — that will want to capture those potential buyers milling around the art-filled streets.
