Forever 21 Moves Into Times Square

When Mid-Westerners think of New York City, we imagine images of Broadway plays, bustled streets, 5-star restaurants, and swanky boutiques come to mind. So the addition of a low brow fast fashion haven like Forever 21 smack dab in the middle of Times Square will probably be disheartening because, well, who doesn't have one of those in their town?

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Not known to do anything small, New York is preparing to welcome a massive 100,000-square-foot shopping establishment in midtown, taking over the space formerly filled by Tower Records.

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On the new shop, Forever 21 senior vice-president Christopher Lee says, "Our vision has always been to get a bigger box."

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So what exactly is in Times Square? The famed NYC hub used to be home to adult-themed stores, drug dealers and hookers until Mayor Rudolph Giuliani cleaned it up in the 1990s. While the XXX shops have since returned, the district remains a hotspot for tourists looking to do a little shopping, or just get a taste of the Big Apple.

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J.C. Penney opened a 15,000-square-foot temporary, or ''pop-up'' store, in Times Square on March 3, 2006. Part of the biggest marketing campaign of the retail store's 104 years in business, the pop-up was an attempt to give the public a new and contemporary look at the chain. The store, which was only be opened for 24 days, featured Warhol-esque posters and plasma screen TVs among 22 kiosks where customers could order merchandise, play games or download music.

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Toys R' Us is a Times Square mainstay, that generally sees enormous crowds for its Black Friday sales.

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Swatch is another Times Square fixture, shown here during a promotion with the popular Blue Man Group performance troupe.

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Swatch's stay in Manhattan hasn't been without controversy. This racy billboard (that depicts bunnies in sexual positions) caused quite a stir when it went up in 2004.

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Swatch isn't the only company that's turned heads with their advertising. This recent CK ad featuring a naked Eva Mendes attracted national attention.

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But Eva's nudie pics were no match for this 2005 CK stunt, in which live models partied away for passing shoppers.

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