When The Tot quietly closed its Highland Park Village boutique in June, the fate of the cozy, 400-square-foot space next to Royal Blue Grocery remained a mystery through the summer. Until today, when The Conservatory officially opened its doors.
Though the store debuted in New York’s new Hudson Yards development, The Conservatory has serious Dallas ties. Its founder, Brian Bolke, is a Dallas entrepreneur who co-founded Forty Five Ten (which also has a space in Hudson Yards) in 2000. He sold the Dallas-based luxury retailer to Headington Companies in 2014 and stepped down as president in 2017.
The Conservatory is his next retail concept. It began as an experimental blend of online and brick-and-mortar shopping. Initially, the 7,000 square feet in Hudson Yards functioned purely as a showroom—shoppers could purchase items for delivery via iPads. According to Vogue Business, the store pivoted to a more traditional retail model this summer, but is still keeping its focus on a “tight and timely” inventory and exceptional customer service.
In Dallas, things are much more traditional, but still as beautiful. The highly edited space (a demand of the square footage, but in keeping with The Conservatory’s ethos), features men’s and women’s apparel (Jil Sander and ASKK NY jeans), jewelry and handbags, and home accessories (Georg Jenson champagne bowls, L’Objet bowls, and Nomad Noe candles). There’s an adorable shop dog named Elizabeth and an elaborate chandelier that highlights the small space’s soaring ceilings.
The Conservatory’s inventory will likely evolve often, giving you the perfect excuse to stop in during your regular Royal Blue or Bird Bakery run.
