43 Mercer Street, New York
900 sqft
Located in the heart of Soho, Manhattan’s youthful, shopping enclave, Contact Sports introduces a fresh retail concept for the sexual wellness industry. A highly curated assortment of toys and intimate accessories, including Dame, Lelo, and Maude, are featured for discovery. Custom millwork, mosaic tile, and lighting, create a lux locker room, engendering the excitement and anticipation surrounding athletic events.
The building’s historic brick facade frames illuminated signage, glowing against the rich burgundy and deep walnut interior. The visitor enters through a full-service rose shop, conflating sex and sport, as the flower is an apt symbol in romance and Olympic victory.
The metaphor is carried throughout. Entry-level gear and sensual gifts are merchandised within vintage-inspired lockers alongside sports accessories and brass name plates. The rose is nostalgically rendered in custom mosaic tile, sentimentally illuminated with a diffused light grid. Woven emerald upholstery and shiny brass fittings form the armature for the brand’s warm-up inspired apparel and accessories.
The experience culminates in a swanky retail lounge in the round. Hemmed by custom millwork and provisioned with vintage magazines and an iconic Jonathan de Pas baseball glove chair, visitors are invited to linger. The lighting—a mix of dim and focused spotlights—creates a moody ambiance and highlights wall-hung branded imagery and premium products. Playful signage above the dressing room reads “Does it fit?”
On the way out, customers can add a rose (or seven) to complete their intimate purchase. Play hard and score big.
Photography by Anna Morgowicz