Nationwide things are looking up. Shoppers all over the country are heading back to the stores and economist predict that retail sales in 2004 will be the strongest since the boom in 1999.. This city, any city is a living entity that maintains life by rebuilding, recreating and rediscovering itself over and over again. Just a few years ago no one could have imagined all of the different roles New York's ever changing neighborhoods have assumed.

It looks as though "The good old days" are back. This is what's happening…

On fabulous Fifth Ave: Pucci will open on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, in the former Godiva space. Next store, Bottega Veneta opens mid-July relocating from Madison Avenue at 59th Street. Ermenegildo Zegna, with Agnona, has opened their new flagship, Fifth, between 53rd and 52nd Streets. At 45 East 49th, ING Direct has combined banking, coffee and pastries, and mountain bike. Yet another Zale's Jewelers will be at 417 Fifth southwest corner 39th.

On the Golden Mile: On Madison, the Northeast corner 70th Street, taking the old Gianfranco Ferre space, a new Louis Vuitton. At 824, replacing MacKenzie-Childs, will be de Grisogono Jewelers from Geneva. The Judith Leiber flagship will be at 680 Madison Avenue, replacing Maxim's de Paris. Fresh, world- renowned for beauty and home products, is opening two new shops in Manhattan: 922 Madison Avenue, replacing Neuhaus Chocolatier, and at 1367 Third Avenue replacing Aerosoles. Blancpain, jewels, are now at 781 Madison Avenue next store to Brequet , replacing Berk. Laura Biagiotti is opening this fall at 833. Judith Ripka, jewelry, is moving from 673 to 777 Madison Avenue formerly La Perla. Oscar De La Renta circling Sergio Rossi shop at the northwest corner of 66th and Madison. Tara Jarmon and Vertigo will open at 60th and Madison. Lacoste's existing store at 54th Street is moving to the northeast corner at 56th Street. British lingerie shop, Myla is opening at 68th and Madison. Alain Mikkli will open another store at 575 Madison replacing Robert Marc. Women's footwear retailer, Marmi is coming to Madison between 53rd & 54th Street. Searle is expanding at 805 Madison. and will open a fabulous new three level flagship at 635, between 59th and 60th Streets, replacing Bottega Veneta. British Perfumer,Jo Malone, is opening another store at 946 Madison. Landau will be at 1042, northwest corner of 80th Street, replacing Dempsey &Carroll.

On 57th Street, arriving this fall will be Christophe of Beverly Hills. Jeweler to the Stars, Jacob the Jeweler, has purchased the building at 48 East 57th Street, across from The Four Seasons.

On the Upper West Side, Optique will be opening their third store on Broadway at 1804. Select Comfort will have their second location at 2091 Broadway. At Herald Square, Lane Bryant is returning to, 7 West 34th Street and Zale's new flagship will be at 142 West 34th Knit New York is at 307 West 14th Street. On Times Square, there's Anonymous Collections, Inc., 1466 Broadway. Face Stockholm and Calvin Klein joining the impressive tenant roster in the Time Warner Center's, The Shops at Columbus Circle. Over at Rockefeller Center, Chris Madden's Home Collection has a temporary shop and Papyrus will open this fall on Sixth Avenue next to world famous Radio City.

Fashionable Flatiron, Butterfly, beauty and accessories, will be at 149 Fifth and Penhaglion's is scheduled to open shop here in the near future near Sephora.

In the Meatpacking District, High-fashion Theory by Eli Tahar, 36 Gansevoort. Timothy Everest is on West 13th Street in the Meatpacking District, same building as Bumble & Bumble. Lucy Barnes has opened another store at 320 West 14th street between 8th and 9th Avenue. Catherine Malandrino has opened another store on Hudson Street joining Calypso at 654 Hudson between Gansevoort and West 13th.

In SoHo, Alexis Bittar, 465 Broome; Calypso, 405 Broome; Industries Stationery, 91 Crosby; La Table, O & Co., 92 Prince; Antique Garage, 41 Mercer; Room & Board, 105-11 Wooster; Bathing Ape, 91 Greene Street. The big news in Soho, Bloomingdale's opening, 504 Broadway, a fabulous store with a Soho style all its own. Los Angeles fashion, American Apparel, will be at 121 Spring Street and yet another store at 712 Broadway Garrard Jewelers has opened at 133 Spring. Max Studio is coming to 426 West Broadway. Ann Taylor will be at 555 Broadway between Prince and Spring Street. Home furnishings shop Fluer de Lis has opened at 128 Thompson Street.

In Nolita, Dusica Dusica is moving from 4 to 67 Prince Street. I Heart, 262 Mott Street; Sexy Kiss, 252 Mott; Daryl K, 21 Bond Street. Bio, 29 Prince Street, where every garment bears a tag printed with the designer's background. Cath Kidston of London has just opened, 201 Mulberry Street.

In Tribeca, furniture designer Hughes N'Cho Allepo opens his first store on Bond Street. Western Spirit, retailer of cowboy style clothing is moving from 486 to 395 Broadway.

The West Village, Olatz, 43 Clarkson Street, Gifted, 51 Seventh Avenue South, and Elizabeth Charles, 6391/2 Hudson. Stefan Stux Gallery will open in Chelsea this September.

Hotels and Restaurants, Starwood Hotels close to deal that would put W Hotel on West 125th Street, where old Loews Theater sits. Hotelier, Andre Balazs has plans to build hotel in Meatpacking district. Tribeca restaurant Nobu will be opening Nobu 57 at 40 West 57th Street. Shelley Fireman, will open third restaurant at 1530 Broadway, Bond 45, an Italian steakhouse. Wolfgang's Steakhouse is now open at 4 Park Ave. Rumors fly that LeCirque is moving from Villard House at 455 Madison to East 60th Street. Chef Jean-Jacques Rachou will open Rachou Brassiere LCB, at 60 West 55th Street replacing the former La Café Basque.. Owners of restaurant, Jane, opened Neptune Room, 85th Street and Amsterdam. Also new on Amsterdam is Bettolla. Buddha Bar from Paris is coming to the Meatpacking District at Washington Street between West 12th and West 13th. Rio de Janeiro based, Porcao Steakhouse will open at Park Avenue South and 26th Street. Solo has replaced Saffron at 550 Madison and 55th Street, Sony Arcade. Chef's Suvir Saran and Hemant Mathur, formerly of AMMA, are opening Devi at 8 East 18th Street.

That's my report for Summer 2004. The "good old days" are back!