Ray-Ban Blends Retail and Restaurant in SoHo

ON MAY 5, SUNGLASSES and eyewear retailer Ray-Ban (Milan) opened Ray-Ban House on the corner of Prince and Lafayette in SoHo, New York, blending its retail offerings with a restaurant.

Inside the two-story retro-futuristic Ray-Ban House, the brand’s available eyewear is showcased in the interior wall displays with books and vinyl records. Alongside the chrome-tinted elements are warm wood walls, evoking a more mid-century modern aesthetic. Intended to be a fluid, hybrid space, the merchandise displays are set amongst the 50-seat restaurant.

The restaurant is led by Chef Pasquale Cozzolino and features a menu of sandwiches on Japanese milk bread, as well as a raw seafood bar. Beverages include pressed juices and a matcha bar.

Ray-Ban is another brand expanding beyond retail and into the food and restaurant industry – others include Louis Vuitton, Nespresso and Tiffany & Co., which have incorporated seated restaurants and cafes in their latest flagships.