Site Visit: Alessi NYC

NYC saw the return of Italian product maker Alessi. The new shop is positioned well, just a few steps down from the other designer goods mecca, Moss on Greene Street.

The shop was designed by Hani Rashid of Asymptote Studio. Hani is the brother of icon designer Karim Rashid. The shop is all white and sectioned by bands of lighting that transition back through the space. The front of the space is devoted to a coffee bar. Walk towards the back of the store, and you see Alessi products displayed in wall shelving and bent metal floor shelving. There are large wall mirrors at the mid point and back of the store that make it a bit disorienting. The products show well and each of the shelves have integrated led display lighting. The planning of the space is a bit odd though. Devoting nearly half of the front to the cafe does take up a lot of space. I don’t think most people associate Alessi with a place to stop for coffee, they want to see and buy products. You don’t have any kind of impression of the merchandise from the window or the front of the store. Not to say the cafe won’t be a success, but it’ll be a challenge.

Alessi is at 130 Greene Street between Houston and Prince.

A few more photos are here: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ]