Cincinnati, OH - November 27, 2002 - To celebrate the constant retail revolution that is New York, VM+SD magazine has launched an annual award that honors the city's new stores that best capture the essence of New York and the skills and abilities of the store design profession. The first recipients of the award are Apple Store SoHo on Prince Street and the Alexander McQueen store on West 14th Street in the city's emerging Meatpacking District.

At 18,000 square feet, the sleek and innovative Apple Store was an obvious stand out in the large-store category (more than 5,000 square feet). It was designed by Apple's creative team - including much input from ceo Steve Jobs - along with architects Ronette Riley (New York) and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (Berkeley, Calif.). Jobs'hands-on attention and appreciation for detail was just the right impetus for both architecture firms as they collaborated on modifying Apple's successful prototype store design.

The 3,600-square-foot Alexander McQueen store dominated the small-store category. The British fashion designer (now part of the Gucci Group), with help from friend and architect William Russell (London), articulated his vision with what he likens to the levitating spaceship from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The store's interior is a glowing, other-worldly white and pale gray cocoon of softly rounded curves and coves, with few angles of any kind. At the center of the store is a ghostly ovoid island of sculpted plaster rising from the pearlescent terrazo floor. McQueen calls it "The Mother Ship."

VM+SD will formally recognize both stores for their achievements in its December issue and at a private reception during Store Concepts Winter 2002, a city-wide event for the visual merchandising and store design community taking place December 5-7 in New York. To request an image of VM+SD's December cover, which features Apple Store SoHo, contact Carole Winters at carole.winters@stmediagroup.com or at 800.925.1110/513.421.2050, ext. 327.

Published monthly by Cincinnati-based ST Media Group International, VM+SD is the leading magazine and voice for the store design and visual merchandising industry. VM+SD and ST Media Group International may be reached at 513.421.2050 or through their web sites, www.vmsd.com and www.stmediagroup.com.