Online custom apparel company Custom Ink will arrive at Bethesda Row in late June, continuing a recent trend of virtual retailers opening brick-and-mortar locations at the downtown shopping area.
The 1,167-square-foot showroom at 7029 Arlington Road will be the 20th location for the company and its first in Maryland.
Custom Ink was founded in 2000 and provides a variety of personalized products, from T-shirts to drinkware and office supplies, among other items. The Virginia-based company has location in New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas.
The Bethesda shop will have a curated selection of custom products, along with staff members onsite to discuss design ideas. A limited portion of the merchandise will be available for in-store, same-day printing.
“Bethesda is built around community,” Custom Ink Director of Licensing and Partnership Development Bailey Rockwell Adrian said in a statement. “Custom Ink believes that every group can unite its members through the power of custom apparel, and we’re delighted to open our first showroom in Maryland to help build that community bond.”
Custom Ink joins picture frame company Framebridge and casual apparel business Marine Layer as online retailers opening brick-and-mortar locations at Bethesda Row.
Framebridge debuted its second physical store in late April, while Marine Layer will arrive in Maryland for the first time this summer.
“We’re in a shifting consumer space,” Federal Realty Senior Vice President of Leasing Stuart Biel said. “The online brands are realizing they can’t really just exist online. … To establish yourself as a brand you have to have a physical space now.”
Federal Realty is a real estate group that owns and operates Bethesda Row. The group has updated its offerings at the shopping center over the years to keep up with resident demands, Biel said.
The Blockbuster Video on Bethesda Avenue was replaced with an Apple store. When Barnes & Noble was swapped out with Anthropologie, Amazon Books was added to address literary needs.
These new stores are juxtaposed by longtime tenants that keep pace with the shifting market, such as Bethesda Bagels and Modern Market, Biel said.
“The customer expects more now,” Biel said. “Retailers that constantly adjust and are willing to do that are going to be the ones that win out.”
Charlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
