I recently had the pleasure of having a nice chat with owner and founder of Letter J Chelsea, Jason Somerfeld, who owns a new men’s clothing boutique that recently opened up in Chelsea and seems to have a little bit of everything for the everyday man.
To really understand what prompted Jason Somerfeld to open up a store in Chelsea, I wanted to know more about his background in fashion. While Jason majored in Marketing at F.I.T., he always knew that he wanted to be a buyer. The fact that he has lived in Chelsea for more than 20 years and knows the aesthetic of the neighborhood, led him to open a men’s clothing boutique in the area. When asked about the name of his store and where it came from, Jason told me that his family had a big impact on half of the name. The first part of the title, “Letter J,” comes from the fact that his name, his mother’s name, and his nephew’s names all start with a J. His mother mentioned to him that he should make that a part of his store’s name since the letter J is a big part of the family. Meeting and networking with important people, Jason would always use “Letter J” as a way to identify his brand as a whole. The good feedback from others later led him to use that as a part of his store. It, in fact, is a very unique and appealing title that rolls right off the tongue.
What really stands out about the Letter J Chelsea is that they have brands that are exclusive, in that these are brands are not widely distributed, but Letter J Chelsea has the ability to acquire them. You will not find many stores in New York City that have the same brands that Letter J Chelsea carries. It is a good thing for people that don’t like to wear the same items others are wearing, so they can have that sense of uniqueness. The majority of the clientele that go to Letter J Chelsea are people that frequent the nearby galleries and are always purchasing art. A lot of them are very sophisticated characters that enjoy buying art, but are still casual. So the influx of clientele comes from art buyers and Chelsea residents. It seems that Jason chose the perfect spot to open his store, right next to other businesses that fit the personality of his store and of the neighborhood. All three work very well in favor of Letter J Chelsea.
Asked about the future of his store, and like any other savvy businessperson, Jason wants to get a year under his belt before he makes any moves. He does plan on expanding Letter J Chelsea and the best part is that he would really like to open a women’s clothing boutique in the future. If it’s a success, why not open more stores? It does seem like Letter J Chelsea is going down that path of success, that for some businesses is hard to find, because they don’t have elements that are working with them. The location, the clientele, the local businesses, and the exclusivity of brands are all working for the better for the boutique.
Letter J Chelsea opened at the end of March but its Grand Opening will be in the fall, so make sure you get your hands on some of those clothes! The store is located on 557 West 23rd Street. For more information on the store you visit www.letterjchelsea.com.
Twisted Talk: Do you intend on going to check out Letter J Chelsea? Where do you frequently shop in the city? Discuss below!
