Manolo Blahnik shutters New York store: only free-standing in US

Manolo Blahnik closes its iconic Manhattan store. The shoe company has decided to close its store in New York. The store has been the only free-standing store of the company in the United States for the past 38 years.

“Thanks so much for being such great customers for the past 38 years; we are looking at new retail opportunities across North America and we look forward to announcing an exciting new standalone location soon,” stated the company.

Last April, the luxury footwear company broke up relationships with its historical partners in the United States for more than 37 years, George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgaitis, who were also co-owners of the Manhattan store. George Malkemus held the position of president of the company in the United States for more than thirty years and helped it become one of the most recognized luxury footwear companies.

Manolo Blahnik was founded by the Spanish Manuel Blahnik Rodríguez and opened its first store in 1970, in Chelsea (London). It currently has a commercial network of 290 points of sale in more than thirty countries. Last July, Manolo Blahnik acquired Calzaturificio Re Marcello, a shoe factory in the town of Vigevano near Milan, which had been a supplier of the company since 1990.