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Posts Tagged ‘ridgedale’

Since there seems to be no end to our appetite for accessories, women's chain New York & Company wanted in on the action. They've rolled out a new concept, Coco & Lolly, at five malls nationwide including Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka. The intention is to bridge the gap between fast fashion cheapies and designer merchandise. My question: is there really a gap, with accessories so readily available and clothing stores beefing up their selection as well? It comes down to the goods, and the convenience: Coco & Lolly offers classic and trend accessories organized around five "lifestyle zones" (I bet that took a lot of meetings to come up with): workday, date night, weekend, yoga lounge and commuter. Prices are in the $30 to $100 range. Nothing I needed to buy thisminute, but lots of items, like clutch bags, belts and scarves I certainly would wear. The build your own necklace, with charms and chains to choose from struck me as Claire's for grown-ups. The little giftables are a nice touch – boutique-y items you wouldn't expect to find at the mall.
Tags: Accessories, coco & lolly, new york & company, ridgedale, twin cities shopping
Posted in Accessories | No Comments »
Atmosphere makes a huge impression on shoppers. I was reminded of that again today at Children's Place at Ridgedale Center. Truth be told, I'm not a big CP shopper. But hats that stay on a fussy 1-year-old's head are not easy to find and so I was venturing beyond my usual spots. The Children's Place at Ridgedale was completely redone late last year and is soooo much more inviting. It's bright, colorful, modern and open, yet compartmentalized (along the lines of the new Gap floor plan) into manageable vignettes. Amazing how much better the clothes looked displayed in this environment!
Locally, The Children's Place at Arbor Lakes has received the same makeover. We can only hope the others get upgraded soon – I might have to make this one of my regular stops.
(P.S.: Struck out on the hat at CP – they didn't have any that clasped beneath the chin. But the ones they did have were cool – not too cutesy – and just $6. I found the winner at Gymboree on sale for $9.99.)
Tags: Arbor Lakes, children's stores, childrens place, gymboree, ridgedale, shopping psychology, store design, store layout
Posted in Baby/Kids | 1 Comment »
The holidays bring temporary stores to the malls. Some of the more interesting ones worth checking out:
Twice the Gift at Gaviidae Common – More than 250 products supporting dozens of local non-profits
MNfashion at Gaviidae Common – Apparel and accessories from up and coming Minnesota designers
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Gift Store at the Galleria – Serving up everything from maple syrup and bird feed to toys, games, jewelry and apparel
Kathe Wohlfahrt at the Galleria – Traditional German Christmas gifts and decor
Treasures Within at Rosedale Center – Holiday decor and gifts from the Stillwater retailer
Sleigh Ride Home at Ridgedale and Rosedale centers – Decor and gifts for the home from Stillwater's Autumn Cottage.
Tags: autumn cottage, charitable gift giving, charitable shopping, Gaviidae, kathe wohlfahrt, minneapolis shopping, minnesota landscape arboretum, MNFashion, ridgedale, rosedale, stillwater, twice the gift, twin cities holiday shopping, twin cities shopping
Posted in Shopping Tips | No Comments »
Last week, I promised the scoop on Baby Grand’s new store on Mainstreet in Hopkins and I have not forgotten…it’s just taking a bit longer to open than owners had hoped. The new target is this weekend. But call first. Meanwhile, swimwear shop Nani Nalu is frantically preparing for its move from Ridgedale Center to 50th and France on Feb. 1. The new shop promises an expanded selection and a few surprises – check back next week for that story. Then on Feb. 5, the folks behind Expecting Uber Baby will open their Uber Outlet (I’m getting a sneak peek this week, so I’ll let you know what to…expect.) And in March, Uber Baby will open at the Galleria with a new focus on children’s shoes. Then in April, Hot Mama heads west for its latest addition: a Wayzata store.
And we haven’t even hit spring! Lots more shopping news to come – and this is the place to find it first. Wondering about a specific store opening or what will become of a vacant store front in the Twin Cities? Let me know and I’ll try to get you the details.
Tags: 50th and France, Baby Grand, edina shopping, expecting uber baby, Galleria, hopkins, minneapolis shopping news, nani nalu, ridgedale, shopping news, twin cities shopping, uber baby, uber outlet
Posted in Shopping Tips | 1 Comment »
If you find yourself reluctant to leave Ridgedale Center, it’s probably the new carpet making the surroundings feel more cozy. The remodeling of Ridgedale is now complete, and while I didn’t find the changes that overwhelming, regulars tell me they love the updated look. There’s a new family-friendly first floor bathroom near JC Penney and a second fountain in center court. But many of the improvements are subtle: new lighting, darker wood. All together, it adds up to a fresh, more contemporary feel. When I visited last week, the expansive center court was bustling. (Mom alert: I prefer the play area here, where there’s space between climbing objects, to the one at Eden Prairie Center, where one big climbing structure leads to more collisions).
The Ridgedale updates got me wondering, once again, if Southdale Center is ever going to get started on improvements of it own. Make that, a total overhaul. Simon Properties, the new owner, has taken over – note the new purple Southdale signs and Simon gift cards. But a spokesperson for the center tells me there’s no word yet on renovation plans. Seriously? They haven’t had enough time to figure something out? I know several tenants are waiting to see what Simon does with the aged place before deciding whether or not to renew leases. Better get going, Simon, before all the good ones are gone.
Tags: eden prairie center, minneapolis malls, ridgedale, simon, simon properties, southdale, southdale center, twin cities malls
Posted in Shopping Tips | No Comments »
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