Brothers Shep and Ian Murray, co-founders of Vineyard Vines, and the Mitchell family, owners of Mitchells of Westport and Richards of Greenwich, will collaborate to open a new store in Westport.
Vineyard Vines by Mitchells is scheduled to open this spring and will be located at 90 Main St.
“We are thrilled to open another store with the Mitchells and further strengthen the bond between our families,” said Ian Murray “We truly value the Mitchells”™ retail expertise and business philosophy, and we feel fortunate to have them as our partners. The history and success of the Mitchells”™ enterprise in Westport, combined with the spirit and message of the Vineyard Vines brand, are sure to be a winning combination again.”
All the stores are upscale clothiers.
When the brothers Murray founded their original necktie business in 1998, Mitchells was one of the original stores in the area to carry them.
The families first partnered in 2006 to open a flagship store in Greenwich. This most recent venture will mark their fourth joint partnership after opening a store at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla., in November. The family-owned businesses will partner again in May to open another store in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.
After the two brands found successful partnership in Greenwich they decided to apply their coupled products to a similar coastal Connecticut community ”“ Westport.
“The demographics are pretty much the same,” said Mary Ann Morrison, president and CEO of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce.
“We”™re bringing great product to Main Street, Westport,” said Bob Mitchell, co-president of Mitchells, Richards, and Marshs, a Mitchell family-owned store in and Huntington, N.Y. “We”™re very familiar with the Fairfield County culture and are confident that Vineyard Vines will thrive here.”
“The Vineyard Vines product is perfect for the community,” said Andrew Mitchell, co-owner of Richards and Mitchells.
The 90 Main St. location is currently a Talbots Men”™s store. Talbots recently announced it is shifting its retail operations to the Internet.
