Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony New York was the first store opened by Carol and Humberto and remains the heart and soul of OC. Located at the intersection of Soho and Chinatown in downtown New York, 35 Howard Street sits at the center of a buzzing creative neighborhood. Refurbished by Carol, Humberto, and their friends and family, the store was the first instance of the DIY ethos that has defined OC ever since.OCNY officially opened its doors in September 2002, but not before Carol and Humberto had thrown one of their now legendary parties in the space. From providing a backroom hangout for OC friends in the early days to staging an in-store Ratatat concert in 2004 and a 72-hour retail marathon in 2008 for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, OCNY has always doubled as a clubhouse for artists, designers, friends, family, and anyone who shares the OC spirit. Today, OCNY is comprised of two stores. The second space, located next-door at 33 Howard Street, houses menswear by brands including Acne, Band of Outsiders, Kenzo, Jeremy Scott, and Opening Ceremony. The original store now occupies four stories of 35 Howard Street and features a shoe gallery in the basement, a kid’s corner, a bookshop, and four floors of womenswear. Brands stocked at 35 Howard Street include established designers like Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Patrik Ervell, and Pamela Love, as well as a range of up-and-coming talents. Both OCNY stores also play host to OC’s annual visiting country, showcasing the most creative and colorful designers of the year’s chosen destination. With constantly evolving store displays, visiting OCNY is always an act of exploration. Zines, souvenirs, and art installations make every shopping trip feel like a voyage of discovery.