Plaza Too Closes Up Shop

It might have looked like Plaza Too was going out of business a few weeks back when they posted "Close Out Sale" signs in the windows. Considering that so many of the chain's nine upscale accessory stores have recently shut the doors, it wasn't too wild a guess. But no, the salespeople insisted. They were open and staying that way. The sale was simply clearance to make way for spring merchandise.

But now the shelves are bare and a "For Rent" sign is decorating the display window. New Canaan's Plaza Too has gone the way of the Westport, Greenwich, and Mt. Kisco shops, which have all been recently shuttered. As of now, the only way to get your hands on a pair of Plaza's summer sandals is on their Web site.

Brothers Tom and John Mendes opened their first store in Larchmont, NY over two decades ago. Retail ran in the family: their grandfather had opened a kids' shoe store in the same town in 1933. When a space became availability next to the Plaza Bootery in 1988, the Mendeses rented it and cheekily named their store Plaza Too.

The idea was to bring big city labels to suburban Main streets. It was a niche market—upscale shoes, hosiery and purses for upscale women. Inventory included big-time labels like Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch and Prada. Unlike hands-off boutiques selling similar brands however, Plaza Too was designed to be simple, unpretentious and accessible. John Mendes told BNet, "We target the woman who is fashion-conscious and has money to spend."

Maybe that was part of the problem. These days, not too many people are in the mood to drop $400 on a pair of boots. Some local residents have reasoned that Plaza Too's price points were too high in a down economy. Others think that their inventory had simply lost its appeal and that they weren't carrying the same top-notch brands that they once were.

In its hey-day, Plaza Too boasted nine brick-and-mortar stores including Rye, Bronxville, and NYC's West Village, as well as the online shop.

The building that housed New Canaan's Plaza Too at 34-36 Elm Street is owned by Karp Associates, LLC, a local builder headquartered on Main Street. There's no word yet as to what will replace the defunct retailer in its prime location. (Neither Tom Mendes nor Karp Associates did not return calls for comment.)

While the phones ring unanswered at the company's headquarters and customer service lines, the online store is still open for business. At least for now.