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.
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.
A celebration of the brand's range along with a focus on customisation in a generous and flexible premium space. The store reflects the importance of D2C, speaking to fans, outdoorsfolk and gifters.
Old-Skool pro-tech emporium. Deep stock, deep knowledge, old-school service (knowledgable, grumpy, helpful if you're quick!), with multichannel prowess.
Similar shops
Long-established store exemplifies the Patagonia mix of clothing, staff passion, activism and community activity, with sustainability credentials in a heritage, stripped-back store.
Minimal, spacious, architectural embodiment of a tech-first high-performance athletic footwear brand.
Surprisingly warm and accessible experience store from Dyson that offers generous space behind the dark facade, a characterful building and the full suite of Dyson demos, interaction and customisation
A lab/clinic/party setting in which you blend your own lipstick shades, lip balm etc. Appointments range from an hour (for one person) to all-day events for larger groups.
A hip-homage streetwear brand from the former brand director at Supreme, Angelo Baque.
A permanent pop-up of food pop-ups. Brands get a 'residency' in the store to be promoted, get metrics and traction. It's a curated, discovery store.
