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Archive for the ‘store openings’ Category
 Lululemon Athletica opens its first St. Paul store Friday, Oct. 21 at Grand and Victoria. The fast growing Canadian company also has stores at West End in St. Louis Park and Mall of America. Lulu has already named its St. Paul “ambassadors;” they are six local fitness instructors, including Amelia Ruth (pictured) of CorePower Yoga. At lululemon, selling lifestyle is as important as each pair of essential black yoga pants. This store, like the others, will offer complimentary in store classes and host a running group led by the local ambassadors. Click here for upcoming events. 870 Grand Ave., St. Paul
Tags: grand avenue, lululemon
Posted in Recreational Gear, Twin Cities retail, store openings | No Comments »
Christie Larson has found joy again. The glass mosaic artist, who opened Finding Joy in Excelsior just this past January, is opening a second Finding Joy today in Chanhassen. The new store, in Market Square Shopping Center (near Cub Foods), will feature the works of more than 60 local artists–most of whom live within 20 miles of the store. Find jewelry, pottery, glass, woodworking, baby gifts and more, priced from $2 to $300. Larson plans to host classes, art demos and kid craft activities at the store. “There’s so much joy to be found in art,” says Larson, “And even more if you know that the artists are, in essence, your neighbors.” Grand opening festivities today, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will include refreshments, drawings, artist visits and children’s activities. 7838 Market Blvd., Chanhassen, 612-250-7286
Tags: Chanhassen, Finding Joy, Minnesota artists, shop local
Posted in Gifts & Cool Stuff, Twin Cities retail, store openings | No Comments »
 On a rainy day in downtown Excelsior, shoppers showed up for the opening of The Bee Cottage, a new occasional store in a quaint old home just off Water Street. It was easy to see why: owner Jennifer Finlay and partner Nancy Koch clearly have keen eyes for pretty objects of desire, old and new, and an ability to display them artfully, which adds to the appeal. Finlay also owns Jennifleur soy candles in repurposed wine bottles. Koch was a buyer for Dayton’s Paris Flea Market. The two met selling their goods at Guild in St. Louis Park. They’ve brought together some of the vendors who used to sell in this Excelsior space and found several new artists and unexpected lines to round out the mix of accessories, home decor and furniture with a vintage, romantic charm. Blink, and you’ll miss it: the store will be open the second Wednesday-Saturday of every month (additional dates between Thanksgiving and Christmas) and every month, Finlay and Koch plan to reinvent the two-level store with a new batch of lovely goods. 421 Second St., Excelsior
Tags: excelsior, Guild, Jennifer Finlay, Nancy Koch, occasional store, The Bee Cottage
Posted in Gifts & Cool Stuff, Home & Garden, store openings | No Comments »
Photo by Katherine Harris
If you can’t get in to Marvel Bar, buy a shirt at Askov Finlayson to better your odds. The achingly hip new store completes a trifecta for the Brothers Dayton, Eric and Andrew, who also own and operate The Bachelor Farmer restaurant and uber-hot Marvel Bar in the same historic North Loop building. Named for neighboring Northern Minnesota towns that share an exit on Highway 35, Askov Finlayson caters to the classically styled (emphasis on styled) man as well as contemporary design enthusiasts with apparel, jewelry, gifts, and home accessories from quality brands both local and international, including Barbour and Wm. J. Mills & Co. North Loop shopping just keeps getting cooler. 200 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-206-3925
Tags: Andrew Dayton, Askov Finlayson, Bachelor Farmer, Barbour, Eric Dayton, Marvel Bar, North Loop, Wm. J. Mills & Co.
Posted in Men's Fashion, Twin Cities retail, store openings | No Comments »
Once you visit the new downtown Minneapolis Pacifier store, you won’t have to wonder why the baby boutique jumped across Nicollet Mall from the street level of Gaviidae Common to a skyway storefront in City Center, near Macy’s (one of the busiest downtown skyways). The place was absolutely hopping at lunch time, and you could tell many shoppers were discovering the 7-year-old local retailer for the first time. Husband and wife owners Jon Witthuhn and Quyen “Wing” Tran had the opportunity to build the new space exactly as they wanted, and their modern aesthetic shines through. Becoming parents in the last two years has only improved their assortment of well-designed baby gifts, gear and toys. (For more serious parent purchases, like strollers, bedding and children’s clothes up to size 12, visit their Northeast Minneapolis store at 310 E. Hennepin Ave.).
My latest favorite find at Pacifier: Chewbeads–non-toxic jewelry for moms, safe for babies to tug, touch and chew. Having lost no fewer than four necklaces to grabby little guys, this is genius:
Tags: baby boutique, chewbeads, City Center, downtown minneapolis shopping, Gaviidae, Pacifier
Posted in Baby/Kids, store openings | 1 Comment »
Allee Metro Chic seems like it just got out of jail. Technically, it was a hidden alley, which in retail, is sort of the same thing. The new storefront is bright, welcoming and spacious–a new situation for the store that crammed its dresses and shoes into a matchbox space. Right now, there are a lot of smart sweaters and jackets from familiar brands like French Connection and Free People. But more from the small, European lines that make this boutique tres enchante is on the way, co-owner Kelissa Stempski promises.
One of the best surprises is Assez Bon, the new home furnishings and accessories store on the lower level of Allee’s space. Owner Rebecca Schissel, who used to have a store in Mankato, offers a mix of new and used pieces with a romantic, vintage feel sure to suit the Allee shopper. 493 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-414-0274
Tags: Allee Metro Chic, Assez Bon, selby avenue, St. Paul shopping
Posted in Home & Garden, Twin Cities retail, Women's Fashion, store openings | 1 Comment »
Jill Henderson’s dream is one many a working mom can appreciate: To run her own business in order to have the flexibility to spend more time with her family. I’m always dubious when moms think opening a store is going to enhance their quality of life, but Henderson, who has years of retail/merchandising experience, seems to be setting boundaries right out of the gate. Poppy Togs and Clogs, in the former Peapods space at Snelling and St. Clair, is open just Thursday-Sunday. She tells other moms why, and hopes they’ll understand. Now she just needs to make those four days a week count.
Poppy is stocked with baby and toddler apparel as well as colorful clothes for moms from pattern-happy brands like Desigual. Find print cotton dresses, statement coats, jewelry and clogs in every color. Beyond gift-friendly baby goods like sock monkey pajamas and St. Paul shirts, Poppy targets practical moms with a rack of “recycled” kids clothes she’s collected (items are not being accepted for resale at this time). The store is a work in progress–something any mother can appreciate. 251 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul, 612-236-3660
Tags: baby store, mom business, Poppy, st. paul store
Posted in Baby/Kids, Twin Cities retail, store openings | 3 Comments »
 Northfield, Minn. is known for its eclectic local boutiques – well worth a drive, especially on a crisp autumn day. Still, can’t help but be a little bit excited that one of Northfield’s finest, Digs, has new digs in Minneapolis. Linda Schneewind decided to move up to the city, and relocated her crafty shop at the corner of 38th and Grand in South Minneapolis (across the street from Sugar Sugar, as if you need an extra excuse to visit the retro sweet candy store).
Digs is a DIYers delight, filled with a huge assortment of fabrics and fibers. The front of the shop features finished products – jewelry, stuffed animals, t-shirts and more from independent artists–many local. Virtually every item here has an interesting story–just ask! 3800 Grand Ave. S., Mpls.
Tags: Digs, minneapolis yarn store, Northfield, sugar sugar
Posted in Gifts & Cool Stuff, store openings | No Comments »
Charm only gets you so far. And apparently, it doesn’t get you down the European-inspired alley at Selby & Snelling in St. Paul to shop Allee Metro Chic. The boutique is planning to move to the former L’atelier Couture space at 493 Selby Ave. That’s closer to co-owner June Berkowitz’s coffee house, Nina’s Cafe. But mostly, it’s out of the alley and visible from the street. Allee hopes to reopen in its new space by Oct. 1.
Oh yes, you caught that part about L’atelier Couture? Here’s a peek at the bridal salon’s fantastic new North Loop space:
Photo by Liz Banfield
Doesn’t it just make you want to be a bride?
L’atelier Couture, 219 N. Second St., Suite 404, Mpls
Tags: Allee Metro Chic, L'atelier Couture, North Loop, selby avenue, twin cities shopping
Posted in Special Occasion, Twin Cities retail, Women's Fashion, store openings | No Comments »
Michael Kors opened Friday at Mall of America, first level, outside Bloomingdale’s. The store is shiny and sleek, but smaller than I imagined and more like Coach than I expected. The focus is on bags – and there are lots worth coveting. Clothes were relegated to the back corner, and all from the more affordable Michael Michael Kors collection. Don’t get me wrong – those are the pieces I can afford and they look great, but I’d probably shop for them first at Macy’s, where they’re likely to be on sale. I was expected a broader brand experience from MK’s first Minnesota store. The only items from the high-end Collection are a few bags. Perhaps MK is just being practical. Clearly, the company has some faith in this market – a second Michael Kors store will open at Southdale in November.
Tags: Mall of America, Michael Kors, MOA, southdale
Posted in Accessories, Mall of America, Women's Fashion, store openings | No Comments »
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Lululemon Athletica opens its first St. Paul store Friday, Oct. 21 at Grand and Victoria. The fast growing Canadian company also has stores at West End in St. Louis Park and Mall of America. Lulu has already named its St. Paul “ambassadors;” they are six local fitness instructors, including Amelia Ruth (pictured) of CorePower Yoga. At lululemon, selling lifestyle is as important as each pair of essential black yoga pants. This store, like the others, will offer complimentary in store classes and host a running group led by the local ambassadors. Click here for upcoming events. 870 Grand Ave., St. Paul
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