By: Remi Levitt
At 60 years old, Mitchells of Westport plans to do the complete opposite of aging out. Handed down from three generations, this family-owned business has hit its 60-year anniversary this fall of 2018. In this day and age of digital everything – especially shopping – Mitchells is not only surviving, but thriving.
The store, known for its remarkable customer service, renowned designer clothing and jewelry, just completed their massive 10-month renovation to the entire 33 thousand square foot space.
“I’ve gone to Mitchells since I was little, usually just helping my dad pick out his clothes, but more recently finding cool pieces for myself,” Jordi Katz ’20 said. “I’m mostly excited for the renovation because they are so helpful and kind there, and expanding a store like that is great for our town.”
All departments have been completely redesigned and expanded with new, cutting-edge designers and exclusive shop-in-shop instillations.
The renovation will debut an expanded women’s department with new designers including R13, Roland Mouret and Safiyaa. Mitchells also plans to increase their selection of women’s shoes and accessories by adding new collections of coveted brands such as Saint Laurent, Fendi, The Row and Isabel Marant.
“We have always been very committed to providing our customers with the best possible in-store experience,” Andrew Mitchell-Namdar, Chief Marketing Officer and VP Ecommerce at Mitchells said. “The look and feel of our store is very important to us, so with our 60th milestone, we felt it was time to have a little work done.”
On the men’s side, a completely revamped men’s dressing room and lounge area will be built to ensure the utmost comfort and ‘at-home’ feel of the store.
While the looks of the store may be acquiring a new face, Mitchells’ values have not changed. The cultivation of close owner-to-employee-to-customer relationship will continue to be the stores’ main focus for as long as they remain, according its owner, Bill Mitchell.
“Many of the traditions we employed 60 years ago are still very much in effect and have only been updated to reflect new amenities and modern technology,” Mitchell said. “We are all about connecting with our customers in a very personal way - whether this is over a cappuccino on a Saturday morning in the store, or our Style Experts texting their customers with new looks before they even arrive. We are always looking to build new relationships and trust with our customers.”
Bill Mitchell expressed his excitement to present the modernization of the Westport flagship location on Sept. 22, inviting loyal customers and community members to join in their celebration. After 60 years of successful business, Mitchell has high hopes that the renovation will only grow the store’s demographic while keeping their loyal customers engaged and inspired.