It's all in the jeans

Two new shops dedicated to denim are set to open this spring in the Short North.

Voodoo Denim Lounge −to be housed in the former Norka Futon space at 780 N. High St.− will "specialize in premium denim, but will also carry other types of apparel and accessories," said Jimmy Schaub, store partner, in a recent Columbus Underground interview.

The store will carry Vintage 1, J Brand, AG Jeans, William Rast, Prvcy, 7 For All Mankind, Siwy Denim, Splendid, Ella Moss, Scotch & Soda, Plain Jane, Diesel, Hudson, JJ Winters handbags, Tart, Alternative Apparel, Badcock, and "several others," Schaub added.

Meanwhile, National Jean Company −to be housed in the former Dr. Mojoe space at 761 N. High St.− promises to offer "hundreds of pairs of jeans at any given time, and feature the world’s hottest designers of denim, must-have clothes, shoes and accessories," according to a company press release.

A look at National Jean Company's Web site reveals considerable brand overlap with Voodoo Denim Lounge (7 For All Mankind, AG Jeans, Alternative Apparel, Ella Moss, Hudson, Siwy Denim, Tart).

Though I certainly wish both of them the best, I'm wondering how two shops (in the same city block) with such similar concepts −on paper, anyway− will differentiate themselves from each other, and successfully compete in this poor economic climate.