Celebrity fashion boutique opens at Colony Shopping Center

Trish Bennett ditched her former job working in claims for State Farm insurance to open a celebrity-inspired women's clothing boutique on Selwyn Ave.

"This is my first store," said Trish Bennett, owner of doll. (a boutique). "I love it. I'm so glad that I did this. If I didn't do this, I would always wonder."

Doll is one of several new, locally-owned stores at the renovated Colony Shopping Center, including The Sporting Gent, Woo Cosmetics and Skincare and Denim House.

Bennett opened her doors on Sept. 26, and she's planning a grand opening on Oct. 24. She moved from Maryland (my home state, FYI) to Charlotte in April along with her husband.

She said her ideas for what to carry in the boutique are influenced by the kind of laid-back celebrity outfits seen in magazine pictures of people such as Kim Kardashian out and about in their daily lives.

"That kind of accessible fashion is what I wanted to bring to Charlotte," said Bennett.

She carries "celebrity brands" such as Artelier by Nicole Miller, Cult of Individuality and Young, Fabulous & Broke.

"I have denim that retails for between $120 and $180," said Bennett, who also carries graphic tees for under $100. "It's a little bit more accessible than your red carpet fashion looks."

Bennett said she would like to carry clothes for men in the future. But for now, she has plans to install a TV in the back of the store for husbands and boyfriends shopping with their mates. And she has another perk for men along for the ride.

"I do have beer to ease the pain," she said. Music to our ears, Trish.


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Report: 7-Eleven headed to uptown

Big Gulp and Slurpee lovers uptown will soon have another reason to rejoice: According to Restaurant Traffic, a 7-Eleven is headed to the Catalyst development.

As previously reported here, Hawthorne Retail Partners said recently that it has completed new leases at Catalyst, at West Martin Luther King Blvd. and South Church Street.

At the time, Hawthorne said it was negotiating with "one of the world’s largest convenience store operators" about leasing a 3,700-square-foot store. Although I speculated it might be 7-Eleven (which is one of the world's largest convenience store operators).

Right now, 7-Eleven has five stores within five miles of uptown, but none within the I-277 loop, according to the company's store locator.

Here's what Restaurant Traffic has to say:

"Our sources tell us that 7-11 will start selling Big Gulps and lottery tickets in the early part of next year. 7-11 has an urban prototype that they will surely use. The Catalyst is directly across from Romare Bearden Park and the new BB&T Ballpark for the Charlotte Knights. Alcohol is forbidden in the park but with a convenience store close I am sure some people will bend or break the rules."

For me, the best part about 7-Eleven (which I frequented in college, as it was one of the only places open past closing time) was always the Big Bite hot dogs. Nothing can quite replicate that perfectly salty end-of-the-night snack. I haven't had a Big Bite in years, but if this 7-Eleven opens just blocks from the Observer, I might well find myself back there.

Read more here: http://obswhatsinstore.blogspot.com/2013/10/mellow-mushroom-uptown-myers-park.html#storylink=cpy

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Jon'Ric Medical Spa opens in Charlotte

A new medical spa in Charlotte, Jon'Ric, has a grand opening and open house scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Woodlawn Road.

The spa is a franchised facility owned and operated by Dr. Matthew Jones. Unlike a traditional spa, the facility also offers some medical appearances such as injections to improve one's appearance.

"The menu of services offered include a full compliment of massage options, skin care and waxing, and mani/pedi services," wrote a spokeswoman. "Some of the many services that Dr. Jones personally offers include injectable treatments for facial wrinkles as well as laser treatments for uneven skin tone, vessels, hair removal, fine lines and wrinkles."

Jon'Ric, founded in 1983, franchises medical spas, dental spas and other such facilities around the world. Here's a description of their business from the Jon'Ric website:

"A Medical spa is the pairing of a cosmetic surgery office and a traditional day spa. This means that all of your aesthetic needs can be met in one location. Today’s Medical Spa offers a wide variety of services and treatments which provide a lucrative and needed extension to the physicians practice. 
A Medical Spa offers treatments that require a Doctor's supervision, such as laser resurfacing and Botox injections. It also offers spa treatments. A Medical Spa is a hybrid between a medical clinic and a Day Spa that operates under the supervision of medical Doctor."

The Charlotte grand opening will feature catered food and complimentary chair massages. There's no word yet on whether it will feature some of the more expensive touches from a recent Jon'Ric grand opening in Armenia, described on the company's web site:

"Grand opening video of JonRic Armenia medical spa. An exciting first day of drinking , partying and botox flowing from champagne glasses. Speaking russian eating caviar and enjoying fountains of chocolate fondue."


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New denim boutique headed to Selwyn Ave.

Denim House, a new store selling designer jeans and other apparel, plans to open in early December on Selwyn Avenue.

The store will be at 2900 Selwyn Avenue. Owned by Tia Klein, the store will carry clothing and accessories for men and women.

“I love comfortable fashion without compromising quality,” Klein said, in a statement. “That’s what I want to bring to Charlotte with Denim House: classic, effortless style with a little twist.”

Designer lines will include Tellason Denim, Levi’s Made & Crafted, Adrienne Landau and McGuire Denim, as well as others.

Klein, the mother of a five-year-old daughter, said she wants her store to be a place where people feel at home, with a "vintage-inspired vibe."


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Sleep Number to open new Charlotte store

Sleep Number, the mattress retailer, is opening a Charlotte store near Northlake Mall later this month.

The 2,500-square-foot store opens on Oct. 25 at 9402 Northlake West Drive, across from Target. The store is Sleep Number's third Charlotte location, and employs four people.

Lest you think this is an ordinary mattress store, Sleep Number includes this description of what to expect:

"When shoppers visit the new Charlotte Sleep Number store, they encounter a multi-sensory experience that goes far beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of other mattress retailers. Customers are guided by their Sleep Professional through interactive experiences that showcase the technological innovation of Sleep Number’s benefit-driven products. The result is a complete and individualized sleep experience that helps customers fully understand their sleep needs and allows customers to achieve their very best sleep."

So sleep easy, Charlotte - the Sleep Professionals are on the case.


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Two new stores on Selwyn Avenue

Two new stores have joined the retail lineup at Colony Shops on Selwyn: a men's sporting clothing store and a skincare and cosmetics store.

The Sporting Gent sells clothes for outdoor sports such as shooting and fishing, as well as casual clothing for men. Brands include Southern Marsh, Drake Waterfowl, Southern Proper, Rodd & Gunn, Hardy Fly Fishing and Sebago Footwear. Here's a description of their philosophy from the store's website:

"From going afield or attending a society affair, the true sporting gent remembers the men of years past and the customs passed down from generation to generation. And he chooses to carry on those traditions in the goods he chooses to sport into the field, wade the river with, or wear to the dinner table. Quality, craftsmanship and years of loyalty are the defining influencers.
The sporting culture parallels the Southern culture, as it continuously reflects on its past...
We aim to outfit the true sporting gent in every man. Through a selection of products which highlight the key aspects of two very distinctive cultures, we will continue the tradition."

 

 

Woo Skincare and Cosmetics is also now open at the shopping center. The makeup and skincare store has a grand opening planned for Oct. 23 that will benefit Freedom School Partners.

 

The company is partnering with a local business to provide spa services. Woo is also hoping to take advantage of Charlotte's growing film and television scene. Here's Woo's description from their website: "Your local go-to place for your favorite makeup and skincare lines, with the best personal service."

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Mellow Mushroom uptown, Myers Park running store, and more

I've been away for a few weeks (getting married, in case you were curious), so here's a quick roundup of some of the news items about new stores that piled up in the email inbox.

• Hawthorne Retail Partners said Mellow Mushroom plans to open a new, 7,000-square-foot restaurant uptown in the Catalyst development, at West Martin Luther King and South Church Street, near the new Romare Bearden Park. The restaurant will open in late 2013.
• Hawthorne is also negotiating with "one of the world’s largest convenience store
  operators" to lease out a 3,700-square-foot space in Catalyst. Uptown 7-11? The store is expected to open by spring 2014.
• And Hawthorne said a 9,000-square-foot Reebok CrossFit gym is slated for Catalyst as well. "Reebok CrossFit Charlotte-Uptown will also feature the fitness brand’s inaugural “pro-shop”
  concept that offers the latest CrossFit and fitness products," said Hawthorne. The store and gym are expected to open later this year. Reebok sponsors CrossFit's official games and manufactures its apparel.
• In Myers Park, the Ultra Running Company has signed a lease for the 3,000-square-foot former Paul Simon space on Providence Road. The store, owned by ultra-marathon runner Nathan Leehman, will open later this fall. Merrifield Patrick Vermillion represented Leehman.
• Freshii opened its first Charlotte location Monday, in Overstreet Mall uptown. The store is in the BB&T building. Here's a short description from their website: "Freshii offers a menu of salads, burritos, wraps, rice bowls, yogurts, breakfast and soups made with high-quality, fresh ingredients."

That's all for now. Check back later this week for more retail news.