Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great when vacancies are filled. However, does anyone actually agree that a discount cosmetics store is the right fit for arguably best retail row in the city or are the landlords, given the state of the economy, just trying to sign a lease no matter what? Compared to recent retail openings/announcements (i.e. Apple, Dr. Martens, Athleta, Jack Wills, Free People…), this tenant doesn’t seem to fit.

Kind of disappointing…

It’s not really a “discount” cosmetics store, it’s described as more budget friendly.  Similar to how Ann Taylor and J Crew are more budget friendly than Gucci and Prada.  Rittenhouse snobs shouldn’t worry their pretty little heads

Glad to see a storefront being leased and more retailers coming to the city…however, for that particular space I was hoping to see something more along the lines of Ted Baker, Henri Bendel or Scoop NYC–something that would help Walnut Street & Philadelphia move forward as a first-tier retail destination. 

But beggars can’t be choosers and with the current state of the economy, I should be content seeing any retailers opening, creating jobs, and occupying vacant storefronts…

This is great news!! Ulta stores are well maintained and I can’t wait to shop there! It’s a step in the right direction. 

I do agree with this. I’ve never even heard of Ulta before this, and am just pleased that something will fill this space, even if just to show other national retailers that Philly is worth taking a risk on.

Crate and Barrel would’ve been great and fitting the aesthetic, but I think this space is too small for their needs.

Comments are quite amusing. As if Walnut Street   has become Milans elite  Monte Napoleone.

Get a grip dreamers. 

The old addage Beggars cant be choosers seems to ring true here.

It would have been nice to see a Prana Store, (Enter Popular Designer’s name here) Store, or a local bank, (Enter Restauranteur du jour)’s new restaurant, or blah blah blah.  it would be nice to just have a vacant hole filled.  period. 

This belongs on Chestnut Street…most likely in Liberty Place.  Trading Brasserie Perrier for an Ulta is a humongous step down any way you look at it. 

Do you realize how big this space is? It’s 2 or 3 levels and something like 12,000 square feet. I’m making some of these numbers up, but it’s huge. Way too big for a Ted Baker or Scoop. The only other good use would have been a housewares or furniture store of some sort, a la Room and Board or CB2. This seems to be a pretty good use given the square footage. There aren’t that many big stores out there these days.

Is it so wrong to hope that one day Walnut St. will rival the top urban shopping districts in his country and abroad? I understand that the current state of the economy isn’t going to transform Rittenhouse into the Upper East Side overnight, but that doesn’t mean we should necessarily set the bar lower for an area that has seen a tremendous amount of development and momentum in the last five years.

In case you didn’t know – or perhaps forgot – BP closed quite suddently.  In this tight economy, we should be happy that Ulta (which is a reputable company and a fun place to shop) is coming to Center City.  It’s not easy to open a business in Center City – lots and lots of different groups to deal with (including the Unions) so let’s be happy the space will be filled, and jobs are created,

Wow…seriously.  Ulta isn’t some dollar store.  Its a decent, successful make-up store that are designed well.  They are building some thing probably beyond anything else they’ve done at 3 stories of use with a salon designed by Bohlin effin’ Cywinsky.

Agreed. I didn’t think of that.
We’ll get there one day. I remember when the best thing (to me) on Walnut was Banana Republic where Arden B is now.

Ulta is hardly “discount”. They’re the Macy’s to Sephora’s Lord & Taylor.

Ulta is in no means a “discount cosmetics store”. If you had done your research, you would have found out that they offer both mass market AND prestige brands of
cosmetics. They also have salon and some spa services, like waxing. The one thing that really sets Ulta apart is convenience.
If some of your faves are prestige and some are mass market then you
have the ease of picking them up at the same time.

I had no idea people were so down on Ulta! I like the store in Deptford quite a bit. Great selection of tons of brands, the salon is nice and well run, and the service staff have always been great. I’m excited to be able to go here instead of making a trip to Jersey.

Just to be clear: BCJ isn’t designing this space.

The more I read and see, I’m not so down on it anymore. Online reviews are great and if they keep up appearances that’s another plus they can bring to Philly.

[...] the new Ulta is opening a block away in a newly renovated, ultra-modern storefront, this space offers a very classic look, [...]

Love the Ulta. Any word on it’s progress?

I hear a CB2 is coming in this location instead. Anyone know whether this is true or not? 

Ulta is still in active lease negotiations here. CB2 kicked the tires awhile back but not sure if they’re still considering this property.

I can not wait for this store to open up I love love Ulta. They sell everything from high in make to the everyday store brands. I love the fact they sell spa products as well as makeup ulta is the best thing ever for Philadelphia. For people who love makeup and doing makeup the way I do.

This one leaves me feeling flat… Probably because I’m a guy, but agree, filled vacancies are a good thing. And, to others point, Walnut St will never rival that of major fashion destinations, but we need to demand more than this. Walnut’s “strip” is only about 4 blocks. What we need is Chestnut St to develop, and extend Walnut across Broad and further west, this will give expansion opportunities and open the doors to stores that we should have that are “no-brainers”… (basically any store that’s in the KOP or Cherry Hill mall that we don’t have now). East Walnut is pathetic, it would be great to start the development a couple blocks in that direction.

It would be awesome if someone opened an all organic product store here or anywhere!!! I am so tired of searching endlessly on the internet for products and paying for samples, or waisting time with e-mails to find out if a line does offer samples for purchase- a place that contained 100′s of organic lines, all in one store. What a dream!!! Ulta is just another Sephora– chemicals, but more moderately priced.