New block for Barneys

Barneys New York — the luxury fashion retailer known for its signature red awnings and exclusive goods — plans to relocate its downtown Seattle store next year to upscale shopping center Pacific Place.

The store, currently in the City Centre building near Fifth Avenue and Union Street, will move into the two-story space Pottery Barn now occupies at Sixth and Pine.

Pottery Barn declined to comment Monday on the reason for the store's closure.

Barneys plans to begin construction on the 16,448-square-foot store in January and open it in late May or early June, a company spokeswoman said. The store will be directly across from Nordstrom's flagship location.

"We've been part of the Seattle scene for a while," said Barneys spokeswoman Dawn Brown. "What we wanted to do is be able to offer a richer Barney's experience."

Richer, to be sure. The new location will feature designers such as Balenciaga, Jil Sander and Lanvin, whose designer handbags sell for more than $1,500.

The first floor will feature cosmetics, accessories, women's shoes and women's designer apparel, including brands such as Balenciaga and Prada.

The second floor: men's designer apparel (with designers such as Jil Sander and Dries Van Noten), plus men's and women's co-op areas that offer more contemporary apparel, including designer denim.

Barneys' expansion plan comes at a time when downtown Seattle is hosting more international shoppers, here for either tourism or professional conventions.

International shoppers tend to favor brands such as Tiffany and Barneys New York, creating a strong demand for luxury items in the downtown Seattle corridor, according to Seattle-based retail consultants Outcalt and Johnson.

"It's really a remarkable statement they're making to do that," said Dick Outcalt, of Barneys' expansion. "Appropriate, but remarkable."

Lynn Beck, marketing manager for Pacific Place, said the center has experienced strong sales growth, as its third-level theater and restaurants bring in more foot traffic, plus tourism and convention business.

That has meant strong demand for luxury retailers such as Tiffany, which will sit adjacent to Barneys once the store is completed.

Detra Segar, market vice president for Tiffany, said Seattle is growing more comfortable with buying luxury items than it was when the store opened nearly a decade ago.

"You find more and more people appreciating the fact that they can afford those things and enjoying them," said Segar.

"And not having to explain why they need a great car, and a great piece of jewelry."

Monica Soto Ouchi: 206-515-5632 or msoto@seattletimes.com