International Plaza could soon open a Henri Bendel boutique for women in search of the perfect purse, and The Art of Shaving shop will be coming in November for men in search of the perfect shave.
Both stores represent the first location for those retailers in the Tampa Bay area, and they could hardly be more different.
Henri Bendel is a legendary name in New York women's fashion, operating since 1895, most notably now at a boutique at 712 Fifth Ave. made from three historic town homes built by the city's social elite.
Besides several floors of purses, accessories and a custom perfume shop, the location has a top-floor Frederic Fekkai salon.
Purses, for instance, can cost several hundred dollars, silk scarves $125 and fashion flip-flops $50 a pair.
In the early 1990s, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis petitioned the city of New York to grant Henri Bendel landmark status. Now, the company is owned by Limited Brands, which operates Victoria's Secret and other stores.
More recently, Henri Bendel has started expanding with new retail locations, including spots in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and several in Florida, including Miami, Boca Raton, and now, according to building permits filed here, Tampa.
Company officials at International Plaza and Henri Bendel declined to comment on their plans.
The Art of Shaving, by contrast, is a guy's guy place. It was founded by Myriam Zaoui and Eric Malka, who moved to New York in 1995 to pursue careers in the spa and beauty products industry.
Malka suffered with sensitive skin, and Zaoui blended a special oil for his shaving that let his razor slip over the skin more easily. Sensing a business opportunity, they sold their car and used the proceeds to start a store based on the idea of high-end shaving products.
Soon they became icons in the shaving market they helped create, with their own branded products, books and 49 stores. In June 2009, Procter & Gamble acquired the company.
The stores feature dark wood paneling, leather benches, marble sinks and traditional barber chairs where staff perform multi-step hot-towel shaves with warm shaving cream, several latherings, after-shave masks and hydrating toner's. Such services range from $35 to $55, and shaving products from $14 to $1,200.
There are now locations in Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Aventura and Miami. According to company officials, the Tampa shop should open in early November.
Both stores represent the first location for those retailers in the Tampa Bay area, and they could hardly be more different.
Henri Bendel is a legendary name in New York women's fashion, operating since 1895, most notably now at a boutique at 712 Fifth Ave. made from three historic town homes built by the city's social elite.
Besides several floors of purses, accessories and a custom perfume shop, the location has a top-floor Frederic Fekkai salon.
Purses, for instance, can cost several hundred dollars, silk scarves $125 and fashion flip-flops $50 a pair.
In the early 1990s, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis petitioned the city of New York to grant Henri Bendel landmark status. Now, the company is owned by Limited Brands, which operates Victoria's Secret and other stores.
More recently, Henri Bendel has started expanding with new retail locations, including spots in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and several in Florida, including Miami, Boca Raton, and now, according to building permits filed here, Tampa.
Company officials at International Plaza and Henri Bendel declined to comment on their plans.
The Art of Shaving, by contrast, is a guy's guy place. It was founded by Myriam Zaoui and Eric Malka, who moved to New York in 1995 to pursue careers in the spa and beauty products industry.
Malka suffered with sensitive skin, and Zaoui blended a special oil for his shaving that let his razor slip over the skin more easily. Sensing a business opportunity, they sold their car and used the proceeds to start a store based on the idea of high-end shaving products.
Soon they became icons in the shaving market they helped create, with their own branded products, books and 49 stores. In June 2009, Procter & Gamble acquired the company.
The stores feature dark wood paneling, leather benches, marble sinks and traditional barber chairs where staff perform multi-step hot-towel shaves with warm shaving cream, several latherings, after-shave masks and hydrating toner's. Such services range from $35 to $55, and shaving products from $14 to $1,200.
There are now locations in Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Aventura and Miami. According to company officials, the Tampa shop should open in early November.
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