Barneys New York plans national relaunch at Bayfront in Naples

A local lease has been signed to relaunch iconic luxury retailer Barneys New York in a slightly more than 10,000-square foot space at Bayfront in Naples, confirmed Bayfront founder Kevin Stoneburner. 

“I have signed a lease with them,” Stoneburner said. “It was signed about a month ago.” 

The goal is to open the store near the end of this year in a four-unit space at Bayfront, the mixed-use center where Goodlette-Frank Road meets Fifth Avenue South at the Gordon River, said Stoneburner, CEO of Stoneburner Development Co. and Stoneburner Companies, which owns and manages Bayfront. 

Richard Cohen and Eric Appelblom, both east coast Floridians, acquired exclusive rights to the Barneys name for use in the Sunshine State from Authentic Brands Group, owner of some of the most iconic worldwide intellectual property on entertainment, lifestyle, media and sports platforms. Authentic, which obtains and invests in brands to create long-term value for its stakeholders, acquired the intellectual property for Barneys when the New York City-based retailer was liquidated in 2019. Barneys last store closed in 2020. 

The Naples store will be the first for the Barney’s relaunch, which is expected to have additional locations in Florida and possibly elsewhere featuring luxury brands, cosmetics, jewelry and its famous Freds modern American bistro, Women’s Wear Daily reported this month. Cohen and Appelblom could not be reached for comment. 

Cohen formerly was senior vice president of international business development for New York-based Saks Fifth Avenue, CEO of Robert Talbott menswear and designer apparel, and CEO and president of both St. John Knits and the Ermenegildo Zegna Group. 

“Richard has a lifetime experience with high-end retail clothing,” Stoneburner said. “Richard has all the connections and made the deal with ABG to bring them here.” 

Barneys will land on the western side of Bayfront’s interior next to the B&B Italia showroom but exactly where could not be confirmed yet. One of the spaces being vacated for the store is Serhant, the 5,000-square-foot real estate firm started many years ago as McQuaid & Co. by Tiffany McQuaid. McQuaid said the local office for Serhant is relocating soon to another space in downtown Naples. She agrees with the goal to make Bayfront more of a luxury retail destination rather than a center with offices. 

“I’m excited for it to happen for Bayfront,” she said. “I’ve been here over 15 years, and Bayfront has been our backyard. We’re super excited about the positive change for downtown.” 

A rendering that WWD included in its exclusive coverage shows the building near the southwestern corner of Bayfront painted a white or cream color with matching dome awnings emblazoned with “Barneys New York” in black lettering. 

“That’s on their wish list, but I told them I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” said Stoneburner, referring to repainting that five-story part of Bayfront, which now features trademark vertical sections of the building in alternating colors such as beige, brick, gold, orange and salmon. The proposed look may just be wishful thinking that will not progress beyond the planning stage. 

“They don’t have the right in their lease to change the color,” Stoneburner said. 

Plus, any facade changes will require local government approval by the Naples Design Review Board, city planners note. The DRB is in summer recess now, so the next meeting is Aug. 26. 

The Barneys team has hired Naples-based MHK Architecture to create architectural plans for the store. The project had a pre-application meeting April 21 with the city planning department, but formal plans have not been submitted, according to city staff. 

“We’re basically space planning the retail space right now,” said Mark McLean of MHK, noting that Barneys goal is to open the store and start generating revenue. 

Any exterior modifications will come in a second phase once the store is open. The first phase is just the interior demolition and renovation, McLean said. 

“What we’re doing doesn’t require DRB approval,” he said. 

McLean anticipates more changes coming to the center. 

“Barneys is the tip of the iceberg for Bayfront,” he said. 

Barneys fits into Stoneburner’s plan initiated two years ago to aggressively add more upscale tenants to Bayfront. The local center welcomed internationally recognized design brands, such as B&B Italia and Storia Flooring, and Ce Soir, a Toronto-based upscale restaurant. 

B&B Italia’s John Marquette, who helped develop the Miami Design District years ago, met Cohen in Miami and connected him with Stoneburner. “Richard Cohen is the fashion expert that I brought to the table last year,” Marquette said. 

“They approached me because they like Bayfront.” Stoneburner said. “They approached me about the idea and I said ‘I think that would be great.’ They can bring some other high-end retailers, as well, so I think that would change Bayfront for the good. It should make a big change for here.” 

Marquette also anticipates additional luxury retailers following B&B Italia and Barneys to Bayfront. “It will be a new Bayfront in the next 12 months,” he said. “It’s going to be very exciting what’s coming.” 

Marquette would like to see a small version of the Miami Design District created in Naples. 

“These new additions will elevate Bayfront of Naples’ commercial landscape to align with the luxury demographics of the surrounding area,” Stoneburner said. 

Bayfront’s latest move also capitalizes on “the Four Seasons effect,” a local phenomenon that raises the bar and attracts more high-end businesses to Naples riding on the coattails of the recently launched Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort. Bayfront also broke ground in January for Palazzo, which will include 35 exclusive luxury residences adjacent to the center’s main entrance at Third Avenue South. 

“Palazzo at Bayfront isn’t just a new address; it’s the next chapter in the evolution of downtown Naples,” Stoneburner said.