APE LOOSE IN SOHO; JAPANESE STREETWEAR BRAND OPENS FIRST U.S. STORE.(A Bathing Ape)

Daily News Record, December, 2004 by Bailey, Lee

Byline: LEE BAILEY

NEW YORK -- Not since King Kong climbed the Empire State Building has a gorilla made such an impact on New York City.

Last week A Bathing Ape, the sought-after Japanese hip-hop line, opened its first U.S. retail location in the Soho shopping district here, and fans of the brand were lined up for the occasion. Sharing a block of Greene Street with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Joseph and Anna Sui, the 3,000-square-foot store boasts a full range of A Bathing Ape (also known as Bape) men's wear, as well as the brand's skate-inspired, candy-colored sneakers.

DJ-turned-designer Nigo was on hand for the Dec. 12 opening, and said through an interpreter that he chose Soho as the store's home because "people from all over the...