While all stores that pop-up must eventually unpop, East Hampton's retail scene is quickly realizing the depressing vista that is a seasonal shopping village. The Star takes a look at the state of Main Street this week, since Newtown Lane has only seen the predicted shuttering of Pucci, and finds a sorry situation. On the westside of town, Intermix has papered its windows for the season and Elliman has left a vacancy after moving to the other end of the block. Mayfair Jewelers headed that direction as well, while Courage B. will pack up around Halloween and head to Palm Beach.
On the eastside, Cole Haan's untimely departure has left a huge hole, with an iconic corner lot now empty. Hermes popped down last month, while the building that once housed Palm Produce is now for sale. Word is decade-old Fifi LaRoo was shut down all together, evicted after a rent dispute this month. Though traffic from the film festival kept some stores around longer then planned, dropped rents have not made a big enough impact to get stores to stick around. The owner of struggling White's Pharmacy is worried that shoppers now flock to neighboring Sag Harbor, where prices are lower and a small-town feel reigns. One thing that is for sure: this winter, tumbleweeds will reign in East Hampton.
· What Pops Up Must Come Down [EH Star]