There's a whole lot of style news going on downtown this week. Shoppers, get ready for some brand-new opportunities for retail therapy.

  • The Esquire Theater is a lovely relic of Oak Street's past, but frankly the empty space is kind of depressing in the middle of such a lively retail street. But not for long! Alderman Brendan Reilly just confirmed that the theater will be converted into a retail complex. While some of the exterior walls and the Esquire sign will stay, the marquee will be removed to make room for lots of retail spaces, including three on the street level and two more on the second floor. M Development — which co-developed the beautiful Barneys store — is in charge.
  • Ikram's new "red box" (15 E. Huron St., shown above) is officially open, housing enough insanely gorgeous clothing to please the pickiest of fashionistas. If the four-to-five digit price tags aren't in your budget (they certainly aren't in mine), stop by to check out the lunch-only cafe, serving dishes with ingredients sourced locally from farms in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois; the second floor homewares section (candles and stationery can't be that pricey, right?); and the second floor gallery, where browsing is encouraged.
  • News broke this Winter that Burberry would open a five-story flagship in its current location. To make room for the demolition, the shop has temporarily moved across the street to 540 N. Michigan Ave., next door to The Shops at North Bridge. So don't worry, you'll still be able to score a new trench before Fall.
  • We're one step closer to the pandemonium that is sure to ensue when Topshop opens its doors in September at 830 N. Michigan Ave. The exterior of the shop is now covered in vinyl graphics of images from Topshop and Topman's lines, and the signage is up. Oh, the agony of waiting . . .