I've absolutely loved Vans clothing for about 15 years now and I don't mind admitting that I'm a shameless fanboy. I mean on my honeymoon I even travelled superlightly just so as I could stock up on a new wardrobe in San Diego - Ocean beach I wish I could visit your surf shops every week!
As Vans has become more and more popular over the past few years, their small boutique shops have slowly been getting shutdown with mall size units popping up in their place - with something lost a little bit in terms of the cool underground vibe in the process.
Saying that, the range on offer in this new store is excellent with a full dedicated shoe shop area, Vans for any season all year round stalls and they even sell skateboard decks and ready to roll out models.
My only criticism over the price (lovely coat I saw the other day but £150 for it, really...) is the incredible overeagerness of the staff to ask if everything's ok or can they help as soon as you get through the door. Just let me browse peeps... There are a lot of shops in NYC that it's so obvious everyone is on commission that it's painful to enter (every single store assistant wants to know your life story) and I've blacklisted visiting - I just hope it's not catching to UK surf/skate stores too.
Overall though, a vast improvement on the old Manchester Vans store which is now the more independent Black Sheep store - check them out in the Northern Quarter too! read more