Michigan Avenue adds British fashions, discount home store

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AllSaints Spitalfields will open at 700 N. Michigan Ave. around June 23.

Updated: September 18, 2011 12:15AM

Despite daily dire economic news, retailers are opening stores on Michigan Avenue in hopes shoppers will seek solace in new clothes and accessories.

AllSaints Spitalfields, a British fashion company known for its ram’s skull logo, youthful fashions and collaborations with rock and blues bands, will open about June 23, filling space left vacant at the former Chicago Place mall at 700 N. Michigan Ave.

The store will sell men’s and women’s clothes and accessories in its 11,000-square-foot space, fashioned to look like a European rail station with a large glass atrium.

Joining the British invasion is Topshop, which opens its 35,000-square-foot Chicago flagship at the former Borders bookstore, 830 N. Michigan Ave., this fall. The store, featuring a DJ booth and Oxford Street chrome and black-and-white décor, will sell men’s and women’s fashions as well as maternity wear and special sizes such as petite and tall. Prices range widely, including women’s T-shirts, blouses and tops from $20 to $110, and shoes from $35 to $250.

Also new to Michigan Avenue is British retailer L.K. Bennett in the 900 N. Michigan shops. Ted Baker London is moving into 1009 N. Rush.

On the discount scene, Homegoods opens at 8 a.m. Sunday at 600 N. Michigan Ave., featuring home fashions at 20 percent to 60 percent less than department-store and specialty store prices.

Homegoods, a division of Framingham, Mass.-based TJX Companies, sells rugs, lamps, furniture, kids’ room décor, storage accessories and bedding and bath products.

The new store — Homegoods’ second in Chicago — will employ 110 full- and part-time workers. Its other store is at 2731 N. Elston Ave. in the Logan Square neighborhood.