Tokyo to the Max

Stepping into Restir Midtown on Tokyo's busy Gaien Higashi Street is like entering an ultra-hip Ian Schrager hotel or some very mod take on a Mark Birley London club. There are no window displays to reveal what awaits inside: a sleek black concierge desk, loungelike purple velvet couches and black Murano glass chandeliers. Designed by French interior architect Laur Meyrieux, Restir Midtown (above) is the latest Japanese retail sensation, the brainchild of Hiroaki Takashita, president and CEO of Restir Holdings, who is revolutionizing the ultra-luxe shopping experience with his unique stores. Ever since 2000, when less-expensive trendy clothing began to flood the market, Takashita has been on a mission to take retail to the highest stratosphere of luxury. His strategy includes offering not only hard-to-find labels but also extreme personal service. Regulars at Restir Midtown can reserve one of two appointment-only vip suites, where they can do everything from sip champagne to host a party while they peruse a selection of the shop's handpicked merchandise, including exclusive looks from Balenciaga and limited-edition Chanel 2.55 handbags (the only ones sold outside Chanel flagships). For the really flush shopper, there is even a $200,000 Hublot watch. "People often say that we are doing something very new and innovative, but we are only practicing good old business methods of thinking thoroughly about what customers want and providing them with the best service," says Takashita modestly.