sector: Electronics
district: Chelsea
420 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001, United States
In a nutshell
Old-Skool pro-tech emporium. Deep stock, deep knowledge, old-school service (knowledgable, grumpy, helpful if you're quick!), with multichannel prowess.
In their words
“Get to know the people who know your gear best.
B&H is not a big box store, or a faceless chain... or a personality-free zone. B&H is a group of people who are passionate about the things you're passionate about—from photography, film, music and audio to art and technology, creating and imagining.”
Visit Field notes
The old-skool 1950s vibe (signage, layout, flooring, decor) is exemplified by the ceiling-hung conveyor belts that move product around the store to the cages for payment and pickup. Part future, part past, this is a steampunk emporium to tech, to modernity and to history. A must-visit for the product, staff and experience.
During COVID they converted their service points into perspex-clad online service areas - video-conferencing with a member of staff. Since the pandemic the "call a staff member" has continued, brining the one-to-one expertise to more people. In addition the store has a long history of knowledgeable and accessible gear reviews on its YouTube channel.
Other Reading
The store's history on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%26H_Photo
LAST VISITED
18/11/2024
Added
2019
COMPARE WITH
A three-floor, 23,000 square foot experience with a Reserve on the ground floor, their first Restaurant on the first floor, and a bar-cum-training-cum-experience area in the basement.
Their third "Forward Store" concept that blends experience, craft, co-creation and sustainability - "repair, remake, resell, and recycle" - in a boutique flagship with quirky design and interaction.
New format flagship for this high-end outdoor tech brand, comprising full range, generous space, cafe, repair, recycling and resale in a two-floor Broadway base.
Architecturally-led, train-shed-chic flagship for the luxury jewellery brand.
Similar shops
The flagship is an homage to Brooklyn, with stainless steel, oak and brick. The monolithic kiln-like brick centrepiece dominates the apparel+sneakers+treats destination.
New brand showcase store featuring an exhibition space, cafe and learning area for this heritage-meets-technology photography and imaging brand.
Old-Skool pro-tech emporium. Deep stock, deep knowledge, old-school service (knowledgable, grumpy, helpful if you're quick!), with multichannel prowess.
A flagship, cartoon-like store, featuring tinned Portuguese sardines. The decor is Phileas Fogg meets Circus, and the inescapable reality of canned fish is dressed up as a humorous, gifting experience...
Eyewear brand whose stores are like art popups. Consistently collaborative (on projects, co-brands, celebrities and artists), the brand produced prescription and sunglass styles that are not repeated.
Confident, swish, if off-the-track setting for this luxury second-hand handbag operation - luxurious lounge meets science lab and robot warehouse. A must-see.
