Since opening in Northern Liberties three years ago, Arcadia Boutique has seen its stretch of North Second Street become something of a shopping destination. Along with fellow established favorites such as Art Star as well as a jam-packed roster of new retail thanks to the Piazza at Schmidt’s, the eco-boutique has helped create a strip of independent retail dissecting the neighborhood. Now, owner Ali McCloud has expanded to another shopping-friendly, but very different, neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square.
“We always thought about opening a second location,” says McCloud. “I love Northern Liberties, but it’s obviously very neighborhood-y, and we always wanted to expand.”
Like the NoLibs location, Arcadia Rittenhouse is carrying clothing and accessories with an eco-friendly focus. A second floor has allowed McCloud to expand her home goods and gift sections, and she’s also curated a small high-end vintage selection for her new customers.
Now that they have a second store, the NoLibs outpost finally has room to expand the steadily increasing men’s collection — which this fall includes new pieces from Original Penguin, French Connection, Alternative Apparel and Skunkfunk.
While McCloud admits she’ll miss spending as much time in the original — which was designed by her husband, Chris McCloud — she admits her new building and zip code isn’t a bad alternative.
“The second one never feels quite as personal, but the building is really interesting,” she says. “We like being part of its long history, since the ’70s, of having great clothing and accessories.”
