New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
J. Press finds permanent New Haven home
NEW HAVEN — A familiar and iconic retailer has returned to the city’s Broadway shopping district after not having a permanent presence in the Elm City for nearly a decade.
J. Press, which officials with the retailer describe as “the tailor of choice for generations of Ivy League men,” opened for the first time on Friday at a new address, 262 Elm St. The location is the former home of Tyco Printers and the opening of the new J. Press store comes as the clothier celebrates its 120th anniversary.
Before the store closed in 2013 as a result of storm damage, J. Press had been located around the corner on York Street. That space had to be demolished and rebuilt and is now connected to the new location. Since then, J.Press has operated a number of temporary “pop-up” locations around the city, most recently at 206 College St.
“Today is an important day for J. Press, with our return to a permanent home right around the corner from where it all started,” said Jun Murakami, president and chief executive officer of J. Press Inc. “We are thrilled to continue to offer classic Ivy-inspired American clothing to the world from our traditional home of New Haven.”
Among the men’s clothes for sale at J. Press include authentic Indian Madras, button down Oxford cloth shirts and seersucker suits.
The new 1,780 square foot location on Elm Street is three stories tall, with the first two floors devoted to retail floor space. The second floor space includes a full service tailor, according to J. Press officials. The third floor serves as e-commerce distribution space as well as a photo studio and administrative offices.
J. Press has two other locations: New York City at The Yale Club and in Washington, D.C.
Steve Fontana, deputy director of New Haven’s business development office, said the return of J. Press to a permanent location location in the “helps put the city on the market internationally.”
“Certain things don’t go out of style and as long as men continue to wear coats and ties, J. Press clothing will still be around,” Fontana said.