When it comes to luxury retail, there is an abundance of places where to indulge in the very best that fashion and lifestyle have to offer, but New York City, and Manhattan in particular, remains the Holy Grail of locations stateside. And that also counts for Neiman Marcus. The luxury department store, owned by the Neiman Marcus Group, may have its roots in Dallas, but operates stores in leading cities nationwide. So far, an outpost in the Big Apple was missing, but that has changed as of today. Lured by a USD 500 million annual turnover in store and online sales in the Greater New York City area, Neiman Marcus has opened the doors of a hotly anticipated flagship. The launch is in sync with the grand opening of Hudson Yards, the flagship’s highly prestigious location and the city’s newest luxury hub alongside the Hudson River.

Measuring no less than 28 acres, the mixed-use complex sits right on top of Penn Station and features several glittering high-rise structures by leading architects. But let’s go back to Neiman Marcus, shall we? It’s the company’s 43rd store, but obviously a specially concepted one at that, as the aim is to become the preferred shopping destination of the city’s well-heeled. Interestingly, it’s even in direct competition with Bergdorf Goodman, a department store which is also owned by the Neiman Marcus Group. Obviously, Neiman Marcus has pulled out all the stops to create a unique shopping experience with tightly curated offerings, alluring settings and top-notch (digital) services, and it’s part of a strategy to transform the brand into a digital luxury platform.

It’s a massive new outpost, measuring 188,000 sq.ft. (17,466 sqm.) spread across three levels, and features a series of settings designed by various practices from across the planet, including Janson Goldstein as lead architect, Related and AvroKO, to create a shopping environment that connects the heritage of Neiman Marcus with the buzz and texture of the upscale Hudson Yards location. The design palette takes cues from the location’s industrial past, but blends in the modern elegance of Neiman Marcus‘ brand values, using materials such as Italian Breccia stone, bronze, stone, terrazzo and lacquer to convey history in an elevated way. Heightening the sense of shopping sophistication on the premises are hand-picked artworks by artists with strong ties to New York City.

Known collectively as the Neiman Marcus Hudson Yards Art Collection, the range includes original Halston sketches, a Frank Stella painting, a Roy Lichtenstein print, and photographs by Roxanne Lowit, in addition to newly acquired pieces from international artists including Elias Sime, Shinpei Kusanagi and Caetano de Almeida. And to keep things on-point, there’s also a digitally curated art wall by artist Minnie Muse. As said, the department store aims to excel in services, including digital ones, and these include nifty innovations, such as a Personal Shopping Lounge with stylists for V.I.P. power shopping, a Digital Styling Lounge where stylists who’ve digitally connected with shoppers can boost the shopping experience, a so-called Men’s Club Room for discerning gents, digitally-enabled fitting rooms, and the beauty department has mirrors that record beauty demonstrations that can be texted or e-mailed to clients.

Being a one-stop shop, there’s a lot to explore at Neiman Marcus, and next to rows and rows of top merchandise, a number a exclusive specialty shops can be found on all three levels that offer a special experience for even the most jaded of shoppers, including the Neiman Marcus Travel Shop with a special assortment of must-haves, the very first Resurrection vintage boutique by Mark Haddawy and Katy Rodriguez, and Blvd, a full-fledged beauty salon with a plethora of services and treatments. As shopping can be just as taxing as it is fun, Neiman Marcus has anticipated this with an alluring choice of pitstops where to sit back and ponder about your next purchase over an exquisitely made nibble and drink.

Cook & Merchants on Level 5 is a perfect for a quick, grab and go situation, offering a simple snack, coffee, or bite. The venue also includes an outpost of Maury Rubin’s popular City Bakery, serving to-go salads, soups, sandwiches, and fresh baked goods. Having an instant sugar craving? An adjacent to chocolate bar features concoctions from Nunu, Fine & Raw, and other local artisanal chocolatiers. One floor up, Bar Stanley can be found, a place that pays homage to Stanley Marcus, the visionary CEO who shaped what Neiman Marcus is today. The menu lists special cocktails, wines, beers and non-alcoholic beverages, but also a concise range of matching bites, all inspired by the man himself.

Last but certainly not least, there’s the Zodiac Room on Level 7. A fine dining restaurant and a destination in its own right, it’s part of an eponymous nationwide chain which serves classic dishes along with innovative culinary creations in a comfortable, yet upscale setting, imbuing every visit with an astral twist. Each meal will begin with a small demitasse of chicken broth, followed by popovers delivered from the popover cart with strawberry butter. The menu is a complete affair, including everything from composed salads, fresh seafood, in addition to a selection of oysters and caviars, plant-based, and gluten free options.