Oprah Store to open at Water Tower Place

Posted May 26, 2010 at 1:02 p.m.

OprahStore.jpgBy Sandra M. Jones | Oprah Winfrey makes no secret about loving to shop. Now, she is headed to the mall, literally.

The talk show star plans to open a mini Oprah Store at Water Tower Place in Chicago on Thursday.

The 138-square-foot shop — an upscale kiosk Harpo Retail calls a microsalon – marks the second retail outpost for Winfrey and could signal broader retail ambitions.

The window at Winfrey’s first store, 37 N. Carpenter St., across from her West Side studio (Harpo Productions, Inc./George Burns) >>

Located in the common space on the second floor of the North Michigan Avenue mall, the open-air boutique will carry Oprah clothing, memorabilia and collectibles as well as items from the “O” signature baby collection. It also will offer an assortment of South African crafts and jewelry.

The first Oprah Store, an expansive 5,500-square-foot shop, opened in the West Loop across from Harpo Studios in 2008. The flagship sells more than 700 Oprah-branded products, from fleece sweaters to dog collars, that represent “the style and taste of Oprah,” according to company literature.

Oprah also sells merchandise online at theoprahstore.com, where Oprah buyer Kathy (no last name) hosts a blog that clues fans in on some of Oprah’s favorite things (she favors Rooibus decaffeinated tea from South Africa) and alerts shoppers to such store events as last month’s “Happiness” sale.

Harpo Retail has more retail projects in the works and plans to announce details in coming weeks, said Dan Halcombe, director of communications at Harpo Productions.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to expand,” Halcombe said.

smjones@tribune.com

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37 comments:

  1. Kevin May 26, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    I just went to the HOME DECOR section of her web site.
    On the front page, it reads, “Your home should say who you are. – Oprah Winfrey”
    And all of the merchandise in that section has big Os all over it!
    Perhaps her HOME DECOR section should say on its front page, “Plaster my logo all over your house! -Oprah Winfrey”
    What a joke! The woman is shameless!

  2. Jumpy May 26, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Only for the common person in Water Tower Place where armed security won’t let bums in.

  3. pammy May 26, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    O please! She should sell the software there that they use to remove 75 lbs. from her on her magazine cover.

  4. Maureen May 26, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    Do you have no proofreaders? How’d they miss this?
    “The talk show start plans to open an Oprah Store at Water Tower Place in Chicago Thursday.”

  5. billyjoe May 26, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    What Maureen, you weren’t offered a second interview when you applied for that Trib copydesk job?

  6. eb May 26, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    I just threw up a little in my mouth.

  7. Vinny May 26, 2010 at 2:23 pm

    And yet another way for fools and their money to be parted!

  8. billyjoe May 26, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    Now it says “The talk show plans to open an Oprah Store at Water Tower Place in Chicago Thursday.”
    So the show is doing this, or is Oprah?

  9. LOTL May 26, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    What a joke!!!

  10. Kris May 26, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    I’ve been in to the store by her studio and it’s literally everything you’d (never) ever want Oprah. Gym bags, lounge wear, pj’s, picture frames, sweaters, ornaments, note cards, workout clothes, sweatshirts, water bottles, polos, baby blankets…. All with the letter “O” (or The Oprah Show). But then she is helping stimulate our economy with the tax Chicago will receive from these poor tourists who idolize her.

  11. jaysmith May 26, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    How many of these items are made in China ? It’s just like
    Martha Stewart, keep those Chinese employed.

  12. crobb May 26, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    Gonna be an all you can eat buffet there?

  13. Edgewater May 26, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    The first 100 visitors will get a BRAND NEW CAAAAAAAAARRRR!!!
    How’s THAT for exciting, LAAAAAADIEEEEES????

  14. Janimal May 26, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    Pammy – LOL – I would buy it!
    The popularity of this woman completely baffles me. I tried watching a recent episode because of one guest, and I lasted all of 10 minutes. Oprah sure does love some Oprah.

  15. notleftbehind May 26, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    Surely the shut-ins who give her the ratings are NOT able to get to this store. I expect failure for that reason.

  16. Sue May 26, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    O, I have to hurry and go to the O. NOT! Boy, you talk about an inflated ego! O k let’s take a poll, how long do you think O will last? O about 6 months!

  17. lago May 26, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    The site won’t even load right now. Too much traffic. Oprah knows exactly what she’s doing. Watertower is a tourist mall. She’ll have shoppers all over the world buying her stuff.

  18. Patrick May 26, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    I want some of the Oprah organic cotton tampons.

  19. Ashley May 26, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    OOOOOOOOOOO You’ve got to be kidding me…………thought she was leaving Chgo. Just too saturated with Ms. O. Give it all a rest, retire already

  20. chicago May 26, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    OOOOOOOOO,
    BBBBBBB SSSSSSSSSSS
    How about selling products that are made locally!!!!!

  21. Lefty Hitter May 26, 2010 at 4:49 pm

    Y’all just don’t get it. Mom goes shopping at the O store then schleps the daughter to the American Girl store. Never have to leave Water Tower Place. There is a fast $1,000 shot. Lunch at RL or Nomi?

  22. C-dog May 26, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Hhmm…looks like everyone is none-too pleased about this store. I have too agree. It has too much the feel of a Disney store, but way worse. The magazine is great, but please–don’t open a store with generic merchandise in Water Tower. The Magnificent Mile has already become closer to the Mediocre Mile with Best Buy in the Hancock and other fine stores gone. We need some originality.

  23. C-dog May 26, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    Hhmm…looks like everyone is none-too pleased about this store. I have too agree. It has too much the feel of a Disney store, but way worse. The magazine is great, but please–don’t open a store with generic merchandise in Water Tower. The Magnificent Mile has already become closer to the Mediocre Mile with Best Buy in the Hancock and other fine stores gone. We need some originality.

  24. displaced_chi_guy May 26, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    “upscale” meaning you too can imagine you are a media mogul just like me as you lift your logo’d toilet seat
    ugh
    Someone please go to the existing store and verify ten items: made here or elsewhere? Besides stimulating her bank account, let’s see who else will benefit.

  25. BDD May 26, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    I am going to be the first in line to buy an autographed picture of her lips planted on her president’s rear end.

  26. Mack May 26, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Remember when she opened a restaurant?
    That didn’t last long.
    This won’t either.
    Who wants to buy a bunch of overpriced cr*p with her logo all over it?!
    Somebody ought to tell her that she ain’t all that!

  27. Sally Ride May 26, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    This reporter might want to check the definition of the word “literally.” It does NOT mean “figuratively.”

  28. fatelvistcb May 26, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    Tell ya what I’m NOT buyin’ – the ruse of Steadman as her boyfirend

  29. Oprah, please leave Chicago! May 26, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    Oprah is a master at the art of brainwash. She’s the next Hitler. Since when do we need a billionaire daytime talk show host to tell us which books we should read and what artists and politicians to support?? Please go away Oprah. Your charities benefit YOU more than anyone so stop acting as if you are God or some angel helping others. You’re only helping your career and putting yourself in the public eye. I don’t want to look at you or hear you on TV or in a newspaper or on my internet. Leave already!

  30. nt May 26, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    hahahahaha

  31. Terry Kilpatrick May 26, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    Maybe her ‘friend’ Gayle will ‘come out’ for the grand opening. Hey, I’m just saying!

  32. Terry Kilpatrick May 26, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    Maybe her ‘friend’ Gayle will ‘come out’ for the grand opening. Hey, I’m just saying!

  33. TomS May 26, 2010 at 9:14 pm

    OOOOOOOOOver-achiever.

  34. jason May 26, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    A Mecca for morons.

  35. bob May 27, 2010 at 5:42 a.m.

    Who really cares she out to make as much money off the suckers as she can to increase her empire as queen of chicago

  36. Mechelle May 27, 2010 at 9:33 a.m.

    I don’t understand all these negative comments, is it jealousy for what she has achieved in life? If people are buying her stuff and it makes her rich, so what? Please get a life!

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