Armando Cabral to Relocate NYC Store as the Model-Turned-Designer Continues Category Expansion
Armando Cabral is on the move, but he isn’t going too far.
Nearly two years after the model-turned-footwear designer opened his first store in New York’s Rockefeller Center, Cabral is set to relocate his 70 West 50th Street location just a stone’s throw away to 620 Fifth Avenue next year.
The new space, which is also in Rockefeller Center, is slated to open in March. The current Armando Cabral Mercado concept shop will close on Dec. 23.
According to Cabral, this move just “makes sense” given the growth his eponymous label has seen since opening the store. “When we opened our doors in 2022, we became part of the Rockefeller Center family,” Cabral said in a statement. “We’ve learned so much from this experience, it only makes sense to continue the story in a fresh location with a focus on our growing brand assortment.”
Watch on FN
And along with the new location comes a new store concept. Cabral noted that this new shop will not take on his current Mercado model – which features his product alongside a curation of African-based brands, fine art and design – but instead will unveil a new store focused solely on his growing range of product categories.
But the Mercado concept isn’t dead. Cabral said he plans to carry the idea into other locations and events in 2024. “The Mercado concept will always be a unique feature of our brand,” Cabral said. “We’ve given New Yorkers and visitors a window into the world of African art, fashion design and its beauty. Equally important, is giving African creatives an amplified voice here in New York.”
And while he waits for the new shop buildout to be completed, Cabral said he and his team will use the time to bring to life the evolved concept. For instance, it will be more “philosophically and digitally connected” to the core of the brand and will feature Armando Cabral’s signature line of footwear and accessories alongside new launches of men’s luxury apparel.
“We’re so much more than a footwear brand; we’re really evolving into a full lifestyle expression,” Cabral explained. “After a highly successful run at our Mercado location, we are excited to start a new chapter with new category launches that show the breadth of my vision.”
This year has been a year of category expansion for Cabral. In an interview with FN in May, the entrepreneur outlined several additions to his offering, including extended sizes in his footwear, a fragrance in collaboration with D.S. & Durga and a range of made-in-Portugal shirts produced in partnership with menswear designer Todd Snyder.
“We’ve seen growth on a scale we could have only dreamed of,” Cabral said at the time. “With the launch of the Rockefeller Center Mercado, we’ve been able to tap into our customers on a very intimate level. This has led directly to our ability to embrace the momentum, improve our offerings and deliver what our clients want, even if they don’t yet know they want it.”
