Moleskine expands NYC presence via shops and partnerships, AMNY says

Moleskine is cementing its footprint across New York City through an expanding network of retail shops, custom embossing carts, and cultural partnerships that stretch from the Meatpacking District to Broadway, AMNY reported.

Expanding Retail and Pop-Up Culture Across Boroughs

The brand operates six brick-and-mortar storefronts across the city for residents and visitors. Beyond these dedicated shops, notebooks are stocked at independent bookstores including The Strand, Rizzoli, and Books Are Magic, offering blank, lined, and dotted pages alongside custom cover embossing options.

The company has increasingly leaned into mobile retail. Following a presence at the Snoopy pop-up in the Meatpacking District, Moleskine rolled out customization carts to Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue, with another installation slated for the Union Square location this fall. These mobile units have grown in popularity as a means for the brand to meet customers at various city events.

A man sketches on a skateboard outside a NYC art store — Photo: indonewyork.com

“Moleskine has developed a particularly strong connection with New York City. Today, that relationship goes far beyond retail,” said Ward Simmons, Moleskine’s president of the Americas. “Moleskine has become part of the city’s creative community and has created meaningful connections with New Yorkers across neighborhoods, institutions, businesses, and cultural destinations.”

Looking ahead to future expansions, Simmons told AMNY that the brand plans to unveil a newly renovated space at the World Trade Center next spring. The company is also exploring potential retail opportunities in Brooklyn. Simmons added that the brand’s broader purpose is to provide tools so that individuals can ultimately become their own legends by using the blank pages to write your own story.

From Bruce Chatwin to Broadway Collaborations

The modern-day brand traces its origins to 1997, when Maria Sebregondi revived the concept of the small black travel notebook inspired by Bruce Chatwin’s book The Songlines. In 2008, Moleskine America established its headquarters in New York City while beginning to operate as a subsidiary under its current name.

Over the decades, the company integrated itself into city institutions through collaborations with the Museum of Modern Art, an “I ♥ NY” notebook design, and sketch-off gatherings hosted at Alan Cumming’s East Village venue, Club Cumming. The brand also extended its reach into the performing arts through partnerships with Broadway productions such as Wicked, Hamilton, and the 2024 launch of The Outsiders – Stay Gold Project.

Philanthropic efforts run parallel to these commercial ventures. Founded in 2017 by Maria Sebregondi and Adama Sanneh, the Moleskine Foundation supports global social-impact initiatives through the Creativity Pioneers Fund, backing local programs like Girls Write Now, NYSALT, and the “Everyone Deserves the Chance to Fly” grant initiative. The foundation also invests in innovative social-impact initiatives globally through its Creativity Pioneers Fund.

Brand Plans Commemorative Activations for 30th Anniversary

As the brand approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027, leadership has confirmed plans for commemorative activations involving longtime partners including Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Hello Kitty. While specific event dates and formal schedules remain unannounced, Simmons indicated that the anniversary year will feature collaborative rollouts across the city’s cultural sectors. It remains unclear which specific neighborhoods in Brooklyn are currently under consideration for the brand’s potential retail expansion.