Eric’s brings cutting-edge style to Broad St.
VERONICA YANKOWSKI Eric Guenther, Marlboro, will fulfill a longtime dream when he opens his new clothing store, eric’s, at 7 Broad St. in Red Bank, which will offer unique, trendy and hard-to-find fashions for young adults.
By gloria stravelli
Staff Writer
A chance encounter outside an empty storefront in Red Bank turned out to be just the opportunity Eric Guenther needed to turn his dream of opening a trendy clothing store into reality.
"I had just come back home after several years in Florida, and I came to Red Bank and couldn’t believe what’s going on here," recalled Guenther.
When Guenther spotted a vacant store at 7 Broad St., plans for eric’s, slated to open in the coming week, began to take shape.
"I was looking in the window and someone said, ‘Can I help you?’" he said.
"I said, ‘I’m thinking about maybe doing a clothing store,’ and I explained my concept to him and he said, ‘Great.’"
Guenther, 25, had inadvertently pitched his concept to Chris Cole, managing partner of building landlord Terranomics, who had been seeking just the right retail tenant for the space formerly occupied by Winners.
While he listened, Guenther described just what Cole was looking for — a hip-and-happening clothing store with prices ranging from mid- to high-end.
"My concept was a trendy clothing store for young adults anywhere from 16 up to late 30s and above," explained Guenther. "It’s for people who are youthful in their style — adults, college and high school students and young professionals working in the city. It’s not about your age, really. It’s about your preferences, individuality and style."
A Long Branch native and Marlboro resident, Guenther attended Monmouth University, West Long Branch, before transferring to Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. It was in Florida that he founded Eric Guenther Associates and promoted popular nightclubs like Opium Garden and Level in South Beach.
Guenther’s marketing business was thriving when the events of 9/11 prompted him to return home.
"I decided to come back to Monmouth County after 9/11," he explained. "I started thinking it’s where I’m from and it’s where I should be."
While he marketed local clubs, Guenther revived his idea for a clothing store that would reflect his individual style and penchant for offbeat shopping.
"I always felt there was a need for stores that are more interesting than what’s at the mall. I like my own wardrobe to be more interesting and unique," said Guenther, who said he frequents small shops that are often well-kept secrets in areas like New York’s Soho. "Either you know about them or you don’t."
Guenther is targeting mid- to high-end shoppers, so eric’s has clothing for men and women with a young attitude in a range of prices that make up-to-the-minute fashion accessible.
"A lot of clothes are in a very realistic price range," he said, "and there are some expensive things, too. There’s something in every price range so everyone can feel comfortable shopping here."
Decidedly casual, eric’s is very "denim oriented," Guenther said, with popular brands like Frankie B, Hippie Jeans and hard-to-find Custo Brazilian jeans. Other popular brands available in time for the new school year include Melinda Zoler, Hudson UK, Riley, Bella Dahl and Rock & Republic.
Guenther says he can back up his claim of carrying "the best-fitting T-shirt you ever put on" with James Perse brand T-shirts.
Above all, eric’s, which is open late on weekends, is laid-back.
"It won’t be a pressured situation," Guenther said. "It’s an atmosphere where you can come in and hang out and see what’s going on, and we are going to have what you’re looking for.
"I don’t want people to just say, ‘I love that place.’ A lot of people say that [about other stores]," he noted, "but they can’t get involved with the clothing there because of the price range or the atmosphere. I want my store to be the place you can go and feel comfortable and actually find something you want and take it home."
The building housing eric’s will have a new facade as well, designed by local architect Stephen Raciti, whose signature can already be seen on Broad Street on the facades of Nové and the Funk & Standard Variety Store.
Guenther said eric’s will satisfy "fashionistas" yearning for a store that carries the elusive clothes they see only on the pages of magazines.
"When people see the store, they’ll understand what’s going on," he said.
"When you find a place where you can actually find things you like, it’s great."