Going shopping at the new Cueva store
The return of in-store shopping, exploring a variety of high-quality menswear all under one roof, and more!
In-store shopping is so back. It’s something I’ve been thinking more and more about recently. Online shopping is so easily accessible these days, which is great, but it doesn’t replicate that same feeling you get when you see and feel the clothing in person. The biggest thing about in-store shopping for me, though, is connecting with the people who work at these stores. This is where the shopping experience goes to a whole new level.
Connecting and sharing a mutual interest in fashion with someone is a special thing. You get to learn a lot and bounce new ideas off each other, which translates to a deeper understanding of fashion in general — plus, it’s always fun to connect with someone over clothing, and that’s what makes me excited about in-store shopping again.
On my recent trip to New York, I really needed to check out the new Cueva store over in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I’ve been a fan of Cueva forever now, which originally had its start as an online store and then later opened up its first location in the West Village. Here, you can find a unique curation of some of the best brands, all under one roof. Started by Justin Felizzari in 2020, the store is now home to brands like Kaptain Sunshine, Second Layer, Our Legacy, Sefr, NN07, Barena Venezia, and so much more.
Shopping in a store that is just beaming with natural lighting is a vibe that everyone needs to experience — sure, it might not seem as important as the clothing, but setting the tone will definitely end up enhancing your overall shopping experience. I don’t know, but I just nerd out about stuff like that, so to me, that’s important. So, I was definitely gassed up to see what the new Cueva space offered right off the bat.
I ended up hanging out with Justin and some of his team for a few hours, just talking about fashion, travelling, food, and the in-store shopping experience. We all can agree that having a base where you can pop in and just chill is something that more people want out of a store these days. Sure, as a customer, having a great curation of brands and clothing for you to pick from should be the main focus, but we can’t neglect the idea of creating a welcoming vibe where you can just stop by and say what’s up, and have a community that shares a similar passion. That’s how I feel when I walk through the doors of Cueva.
I know a lot of our readers are either in New York or travel to the city often and with so much amazing shopping available in close proximity, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Cueva’s high level of curation and careful selection of brands create a new take on a familiar experience. The people who make Cueva a reality also foster a welcome vibe that just makes you want to come back. There’s room to explore, vibe and bond with these people that will, in turn, make it more than just buying clothes, and I think more people should lean into that!
I think what’s also cool about this shop, and what other shops are starting to do more of, is pulling away from the online shopping experience. Sure, the online site is still there, but there is just way more stock in-store that doesn’t hit the website — I spoke to Justin about this, and while they are actively working on updating their website with the current stock, they want customers to come in and enjoy the space, look at the stuff, and try the clothes out in person. There’s a new movement of shops focusing on retail, and I’m excited about that.
I can continue to yap about the store, but in reality, you need to go in and experience it for yourself. I did this feature on my own accord because I truly love what they’ve built, so shout out to Justin and the team for doing what they do. Next time you’re in the city, make sure you stop by their new location at 49 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY.
They are constantly dropping new goods at their shop, so make sure you follow them on IG here to stay in touch!
I totally agree, in person shopping is the best in stores like these. Boston desperately needs some better curated stores like this.