Pop-up stores: Storeroom and Gimme Shoes/AB Fits

Pub date December 10, 2008
SectionPixel Vision

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Temp space, the final frontier: Storeroom.

A brainwave from Shopping Spy, who is still kicking herself for neglecting that Comme des Garcons Guerilla Store in Reykjavik a few years back: temporary storefronts are just the ticket for the new bad economy. A low commitment way to instill a sense of urgency in shoppers. I stumbled across two fly-by-night goodies recently: Storeroom, a “pop-up department store for the holidays” at 2226 Bush, and the Gimme Shoes/AB Fits close-out store in the onetime Stitch Lounge space at 182 Gough.

The latter – a union of the the separately owned, once-neighboring AB Fits and Gimme Shoes – boasts a sign reading “80-90% off.” Deals can definitely be had: last week one could score $10 Edun T’s, lots of men’s jeans and kicks (a pal got two for $30-something), and some adorable women’s shoes by makers like Dries Van Noten, Repetto, and Belle by Sigerson Morrison. But move fast – the shop is only there through Dec. 14.