Martha is venturing into retail again, this time in the form of a cafe! Martha and Co. will be opening a cafe in the same building in which MSLO is headquartered; the landmark Starrett-Lehigh Building in Manhattan’s Chelsea District. Details are scarce at this point, but the search for qualified baristas has already begun.
One detail that was made public during Macy’s lawsuit against Martha is the fact that in the “exclusive” contract with Macy’s, Martha has retained the right to sell Martha Stewart-branded items in stand-alone stores that bear her name. At the time, there was a Martha Stewart store in Japan, that sold Martha items.
Knowing Martha, this cafe will be only a beginning. Since product licensing represents a significant amount of MSLO’s profit-making enterprises, it seems reasonable to expect there will be other Martha Stewart-branded items for sale here. And with America’s love affair with all things Martha continuing, one can be sure the cafe will be a smash success. I mean, who wouldn’t want to share a cup of coffee with Martha herself, right?
Friends of Martha: Celebrating All Good Things Related to Martha Stewart 