Sunday, December 09, 2007
Claire V. becomes full-time boutique
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Jenny reports on the latest news on the Roanoke Valley retail industry.
Recent stories
The downtown Roanoke warehouse for a local silk handbag company has been transformed into a full-time boutique.
Claire V., a company that designs handbags and other accessories, opened the new store at 309 Campbell Ave. last week. Previously the space had been a showroom, used primarily for a large sale that Claire V. held several times a year. Mostly the company's handbags were sold inside some boutiques in the Roanoke Valley, worldwide and online.
Claire V.'s only other exclusive shop exists in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company also had a temporary retail location in Charlotte, N.C., last Christmas as an experiment.
Claire V. president, Laura Bradford Godfrey, decided that it was time to open a full-fledged retail location in Roanoke. Eventually, she said she would like to open other stores in Atlanta and in Charlotte, N.C.
In 2003, she moved Claire V.'s home base to Roanoke from Boston. Its handbags of all shapes, colors and sizes are designed locally and crafted in Cambodia by victims of land mine injuries. The embroidery work is done in Vietnam. Claire V. donates 10 percent of its sales to education and health programs for women and children in Asia.
Godfrey is using the new Roanoke store, which will be open Monday through Saturday, to showcase several new lines. And they're not all exclusive to Claire V. They include Needham Lane cotton print pajamas, including some that have a retro look, and bath products from a Daleville company.
Claire V. also has designed its own line of baby clothing that is available at the store.
Red Clay Restaurant
John Kim wanted to bridge the gap between dining options in Roanoke and at Smith Mountain Lake.
Last month, he opened Red Clay Restaurant in downtown Rocky Mount. This new eatery at 65 N. Main St. serves a variety of cuisine, from pasta and steak to seafood and coconut curry.
"Since we're in between Smith Mountain Lake and Roanoke, we have people who want to head to Roanoke or to the lake to get a better meal," said Kim, who formerly managed Applebee's in Rocky Mount. "We're trying to prevent that."
Kim, who owns Red Clay with his father, Joung Kim, described the restaurant's atmosphere as "casual upscale."
It's open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner and for dinner only on Sundays. Its name is derived from the red clay found in the Virginia mountains, John Kim said.
Attorney's office condo
A Roanoke attorney has purchased an office condo on Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke.
Neil Horn said he will move his Church Avenue office to 319 Campbell Ave. at the end of this month, a location housed on the bottom level of the Campbell Garage Lofts, which are residential units. Horn said his new space, measuring 975 square feet, is ideal for close proximity to his work.
"I'm just around the corner from the courthouse," Horn said.
Horn joins a growing group of professionals who are purchasing small office spaces, rather than renting, in Roanoke's downtown. Beside Horn, Jeff and Hilary Kennard bought a 700-square foot office condo for their graphic design and advertising firm, Kennard Creative, earlier this year.
Divine Dance Center
Divine Dance Center is moving to a larger location at Springwood Park, a retail center on Electric Road in Roanoke County. The dance studio's new spot will feature a sprung floor for safety, floor to ceiling mirrors, and a waiting room with a one-way mirror for parents to observe their children during classes, according to Riley Fitzgerald, owner of the center. There also will be a small retail area.
Most of the center's group dance classes will move to the new location on Dec. 17.
The dance business will use its current location on Merriman Road, at Starkey Station, for private lessons.
From the Storefront
News from last week's Storefront blog at blogs.roanoke.com/storefront/:
n Jo-Ann Fabrics on U.S. 220 in Roanoke will close in late January, according to the store manager.
n Learn more safe toy buying tips from the Toy Industry Association.
n Ginger's Jewelry's Web site is open for business.
