Let It All Out: Joyce Warehouse

Tiffany Wang | Jul 5, 2011 12:00 pm | 11 comments | 6518 reads

And you thought Lane Crawford was far.

Its popular sister store is making its first foray into Beijing, albeit in “warehouse” form. Curiously, Joyce has elected to settle down in Surprise Outlets, a new luxury outlet mall located outside the East Fifth Ring Road.

I know what you’re thinking. Unless you’re headed to the Great Wall, treks that far are best avoided, right?

Indeed, the long, lone highways remind me eerily of the USA. But even that nostalgic drive doesn’t prepare me for the sight of Surprise Outlets. The sprawling parking lot. The adobe-style buildings. The stark signs with familiar names like Quiksilver and Bed Bath & Linen.

Then there are the new China contenders, like Beijing-based Wo2, Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford Warehouse, along with internationally-famed labels such as I.T, 7 For All Mankind, BCBG and Juicy Couture.

Tags helpfully list the original prices, followed by the current deal. Over 30 brands (including Jil Sander, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten, Miu Miu, Phillip Lim, Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta and Lanvin) are available for up to 50-70 percent off – sometimes even more. I spotted a pair of last-season Balenciaga stiletto heels for RMB 990, marked down from RMB 4,950, as well as a Viktor & Rolf salmon blazer slashed down from RMB 12,900 to RMB 2,580.

The first floor houses a more mature and sophisticated selection, with prime pickings for muted-colored work pants, collared shirts, cashmere knits, suit jackets and modestly cut dresses.

The second floor has a distinctly more youthful, playful spirit. (Nearly half the stock is Anna Sui – need we say more?) Chloé’s more affordable line See by Chloé packs the shelves with silk tanks (RMB 340) and gorgeous leather belts (RMB 530). Other gems were a Zero + Maria Cornejo leather skirt (RMB 2,700) and a handful of dresses from Victoria Beckham’s former collections.

Now who said we had to travel to Hong Kong to snag good deals? If you don’t mind shopping off-season, come here and make a day of it. The third floor is still empty – let’s give them reason to fill it.

Also try: Lane Crawford

Joyce Warehouse
Daily 9.30am-9pm. Unit A-01, Surprise Outlets, Forest Park Jinzhan East No. 1, Chaoyang District (8439 9661/2)
朝阳区金盏乡森林公园东1号北京斯普瑞斯奥特莱斯商城A-01单元

Photos: Judy Zhou

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Nidaye's picture Nidaye Submitted by Guest on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 17:11

The less adventurous can take a taxi - it's not that hard. You need to get on the 2nd airport expressway. You can do this by taking Yaojiayuan Rd all the way east, past the 5th ring road it turns into the 2nd airport expressway. After about 5km, take the Jinzhan Rd exit. Drive along the service road for a bit and make a u-turn at the first oppurtunity, and you're pretty much there. There will be signs (in Chinese) along the service road showing you where to go.

http://www.surpriseoutlets.com/map.htm

HuanChu's picture HuanChu Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 02:28

@jlatty06

I made no personal comment about the author, but criticized, based on my own personally opinion, what I interpreted from her article.

You, however, find my comment worthless, and compare me to shit, while yours serves.....what purpose exactly? :?

And for that matter, how does insulting someone (Biker), because they question Ms. Wangs presentation of traffic information to the location, serve any purpose?

I would say you are a shallow joke, but based on what you have written, and seeing as how you describe yourself as "a man of simple tastes and pleasures", that hardly seems necessary.

A very smart man wrote:
Remember, the courage to be wrong is paramount in importance to the ability to be right.

tbjlil's picture tbjlil Submitted by Guest on Fri, 07/08/2011 - 18:30

Just a note for those who are intent on walking from the Jingzhan 金盏 bus stop. The location of the outlet mall is not at all obvious from there; there will be no signs to guide you. Here's what you do: Head west towards the highway (Airport Expressway #2), then turn left and head northeast (parallel to the highway) until you reach Surprise Outlets. The walk really does take about half an hour. It's a rather desolate stretch of road, but if you persevere, many discounts await you at the end of it.

jlatty06's picture jlatty06 Submitted by Guest on Fri, 07/08/2011 - 17:44

@Twang: what a cool place this seems to be. I've been looking for discount Western brands for quite awhile, since many of the ones here are OVERpriced. I look forward to trying this place out. I have already chosen my bus route! Sounds like a fun, relaxing ride for a Sunday afternoon!

@HuanChu: Your comment was both unnecessary and worthless. I wish you the best of luck as you try to reconcile the fact that the words you speak are synonymous to the excrement I discharge. If you represent people from the 'east side of the tracks,' then I feel sorry for you and them, and I have no desire to ever make any type of connection to you or them. Best of luck to you.

sunkissdme's picture sunkissdme Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:04

I read the article, and in no way did I get the impression that i looked down up or discouraged interest in the East. Actually, the first line of text under the picture is "This outlet is well worth the journey". In fact, it rather entices the reader to make visit the store by painting an inviting picture of amazing deals that are hard to find in the US, nevermind China.

Also,

Quote:
@Tiffany What is it with you media people, who are supposed to enlightening people and opening readers to new experiences and opportunities, always dumping on Beijing East?
"Oh no! This place is more than a 2 mintue walk or 2 subway stops, and there is no way to get a taxi???!!! Agggghhhhh!!!" Please.
Is a 40 minute bus ride REALLY that hard for the spoiled sloths of Beijing?
Get out of your comfort zones people and actually make the effort to go somewhere.
, I've actually found incredibly offensive. This is actually a new, unique experience in Beijing East, that she is recommending shoppers to check out and I think letting us know that it's a mission to get there is only common courtesy. Lord knows I wouldn't want to trek that far without being prepared with a backpack to carry my goods home.

I think you should perhaps read a little carefully next time before becoming so defensive and rude.

Thx T for the new tip, I'm definitely getting out of my couch and bitching the 40 mins to go check this place out.

HuanChu's picture HuanChu Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 11:28

twang wrote:
Hey Huanchu,

I'm sorry if anything was misinterpreted in the article. The fact that I wrote up this store obviously means that I think it's worth going to, in spite of the journey.

I'm all for trying new things on a regular basis, especially while living abroad. Yeah, I joke about the distance, but my main intention was to make sure our readers know what to expect. While many sights around the city are indeed worth an hour-long commute (or more), I know most of us would still appreciate the warning.

Plus, I end on a very positive note! If that's not enough encouragement, I don't know what is.

Fairly said, Ms. Twang, fairly said.

It's just that people like me, from the 'east side of the tracks', sometimes get very defensive when it looks like people are looking down on, or discouraging interest in, this area of the city.

But keep going. The construction of New Tongzhou is fully underway, so there are bound to be more and more places like the one above, and a lot more besides, popping up around here soon.

A very smart man wrote:
Remember, the courage to be wrong is paramount in importance to the ability to be right.

twang's picture twang Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 01:22

Hey Huanchu,

I'm sorry if anything was misinterpreted in the article. The fact that I wrote up this store obviously means that I think it's worth going to, in spite of the journey.

I'm all for trying new things on a regular basis, especially while living abroad. Yeah, I joke about the distance, but my main intention was to make sure our readers know what to expect. While many sights around the city are indeed worth an hour-long commute (or more), I know most of us would still appreciate the warning.

Plus, I end on a very positive note! If that's not enough encouragement, I don't know what is.

Tiffany Wang
Style & Living Editor, the Beijinger

HuanChu's picture HuanChu Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 19:58

admin wrote:
HuanChu wrote:
Get out of your comfort zones people and actually make the effort to go somewhere.

for an outlet mall? no thanks.

There is plenty to see and do in the outlying suburbs, even if it takes 45 minutes to get there.

But the OP's reinforcement of the negative stereotype that it's more hassle than it's worth, is very unworthy.

A very smart man wrote:
Remember, the courage to be wrong is paramount in importance to the ability to be right.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 15:37

HuanChu wrote:
Get out of your comfort zones people and actually make the effort to go somewhere.

for an outlet mall? no thanks.

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

HuanChu's picture HuanChu Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 15:30

@Tiffany

What is it with you media people, who are supposed to enlightening people and opening readers to new experiences and opportunities, always dumping on Beijing East?

"Oh no! This place is more than a 2 mintue walk or 2 subway stops, and there is no way to get a taxi???!!! Agggghhhhh!!!" Please.

Is a 40 minute bus ride REALLY that hard for the spoiled sloths of Beijing?

Get out of your comfort zones people and actually make the effort to go somewhere.

A very smart man wrote:
Remember, the courage to be wrong is paramount in importance to the ability to be right.

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