West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano is rapidly becoming the home of the "flagship store."
In the last year, several direct-to-consumer bands with large e-commerce presences have chosen the avenue as the best place to set up a brick-and-mortar shop.
From local jewellery brands Melanie Auld and Bloodline to Canadian footwear and accessories company Poppy Barley, Vancouver's West 4th is attracting both national and international businesses that seem to be peers in the lifestyle space.
The latest addition to the club is the popular Vancouver-based luggage brand Monos.
Previously, Monos was first e-commerce or you could find them in department stores like the dearly-departed Nordstrom. However, after securing some serious capital, the company has decided to open physical locations, starting with one in its hometown.
A stand-alone luggage and travel accessory store is a novel idea (can you remember the last time you shopped for luggage IRL outside of The Bay?) but the brand has secured a 2,000-square-foot space at 2131 W 4th and the CEO has said that if all goes well, they intend to have over ten stores by 2026.
Monos first launched in 2019, and last year moved its head office staffed with 50 people to Manitoba Street. The company has grown significantly since it started and expanded its product line to include weekender bags, packing cubes, and travel accessories as well as roller suitcases and a limited-edition collaboration with New York's Magnolia Bakery.
The first Monos store will open on July 7.
With files from Glen Korstrom/Business In Vancouver
