Michigan Ave. Magazine Follows Debut with Staff Cuts

With just one issue under its belt, Michigan Avenue magazine is laying off employees. An unknown number of staff, that includes the Marketing Director, were let go recently as part of a companywide restructuring effort by owner Niche Media Holdings LLC, publisher of society magazines across the U.S. Earlier this month, sister publications Philadelphia Style and Ocean Drive in Miami also laid off employees. The CEO of NY-based Niche said they’re trying to eliminate redundancies that resulted from acquisitions. Michigan Avenue targets high-end execs with million-dollar homes, a readership that has been hard hit by market declines and plummeting real estate values. The layoffs come even as Niche expands its custom publishing department, which produces Art Basel, Miami Dining Guide and magazines for the Trump Org. and Wynn Resorts. Michigan Avenue magazine made its debut last month after a yearlong PR campaign that featured a cocktail soiree at Trump International Hotel & Tower and a splashy red-carpet opening starring supermodel Cindy Crawford. The CEO of NY-based Niche called it the most successful launch they’ve had and said Niche is committed to Michigan Avenue, which will next publish a holiday issue. He would not say how many paid staffers are left in Chicago, but a recent staff photo showed him with a dozen workers. The glossy’s first hire helped organize numerous launch parties during the past year that attracted Chicago business executives and young wannabe movers and shakers. Before Michigan Avenue, she was director of Gen Art Chicago, which promotes emerging artists in fashion, art and film.