Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "retail"

Ikon Cycles moves to larger Midtown location

2011-12-13T05:19:45Z

The 3-year-old Ikon Cycles bicycle shop recently relocated from its 18th Street location to a new spot on J Street, finishing construction last week.

Owner Adrian Moore, originally from Portland, came to Sacramento in 2004 and shortly thereafter decided to open a shop similar to the ones in his hometown.

“In Portland, there’s a lot of fiercely independent local stores,” he said. “I think of this shop as being like some of the locally owned ski and snowboard shops.”

The original location, 1126 18th St., was a 500-square-foot space, and Moore said some were skeptical that he could fit a bike shop inside, but it worked well.

Deciding to move to the new location, at 2318 J St., took the shop from what Moore called the best corner in Sacramento, but it meant a space about three times the size for the same price.

“It’s not quite as good for visibility, but it’s a high-traffic area, and I’m hoping as things get better, the foot traffic picks up, too,” Moore said.

The first thing customers see upon entering the shop is a large pipe sculpture Moore created. Coming out from the left wall, the PVC pipes stretch to the ceiling and branch out like a tree, and many have LED light fixtures in red, white and green – the colors of the Italian flag.

“We sell a lot of Italian products in here, so that made sense,” Moore said.

The industrial look to the space is complemented by bamboo benches suspended from the ceiling. A trio of bicycles are set up in the corner to provide state-of-the-art training to cyclists preparing to race or keep up their skills through the winter months.

“The trainer stations are amazingly popular,” Moore said. He added that unlike the more rudimentary Gold Sprints, where riders pedal a stationary bicycle for all they’re worth, the trainer stations at Ikon Cycles accurately simulate terrain, steering, wind resistance and a number of other factors, and video screens in front of the riders give the feel of a virtual tour of some of the famous cycling areas in the world.

“They have a lot of the major climbs, and they have several stages of the Tour de France,” Moore said.

Moore said his shop includes an eclectic mix of bicycles and gear, adding that customers can get everything from introductory bicycles all the way up to professional-grade cycles hand-built in Italy with carbon fiber frames.

“One thing we do that really no one else is doing is custom-fitting you for your bike,” he said, adding that an adjustable bicycle frame allows him to determine the proper size bicycle needed for a customer.

“If you’re riding for four hours, the fit of the bike will really determine whether you keep riding or whether you hang it up in your garage,” he said. “If you’re not comfortable on that bike, you’re not going to ride it.”

A seating area in the front of the shop underscores what Moore said is his priority when it comes to running a business – customer service.

“The only way to survive is by really being there for the customer,” he said. “We give them a place to sit, and we spend probably eight hours with a customer buying a bike before we ever get any cash handed to us.”

Kimio Bazett, co-owner of The Golden Bear bar, said he is a customer of Ikon Cycles and thinks the shop has a personality to it.

“The emphasis on people’s comfort and the feeling of welcoming is something you don’t really see too much of these days,” he said. “Having the living room lounge area where people are encouraged to hang out and get a feel for the place is better than the feeling of ‘buy something or get out.’ ”

Bazett said he bought a used bicycle and took it into Ikon Cycles for a tune-up, and he’s been going back for the past year and a half.

“Adrian (Moore) is part of this new breed of Sacramento entrepreneurs,” Bazett said. “I actually believe he’s not chasing the dollar, but he’s chasing the vision. He’s more interested in the aesthetic and the experience than he is about the bottom line.”

Moore said he enjoys being a part of the community, and he was the purchaser of the bicycles for the Midtown Ride Your Own Way bicycle share program.

Ikon Cycles is open 10:30 a.m. to at least 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 2318 J St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Man on the Street: Black Friday

2011-11-25T06:14:25Z

Black Friday: To some, it’s THE day to kick off the Christmas shopping season and snag unbelievable deals on high-end items, even if it means camping overnight or cutting a Thanksgiving meal short. To others, it’s a day to avoid shopping centers at all costs.

The Sacramento Press asked locals to share their Black Friday plans, strategies and experiences. Here is what they had to say:

Ramona Powell, a 54-year-old transportation consultant from Sacramento, said she plans to do some shopping on Friday.

“I’ve looked online at what Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target, JC Penney’s and Macy’s have,” she said. “My tradition has been to go out at about 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving and camp out.”

She said her best deal was a $199 laptop from Best Buy a few years ago. However, with some stores opening at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving, she said she might shop online this year instead of cutting her dinner short.

Jessica Russell, a 30-year-old in the military from Syracuse, N.Y., said she is in Sacramento visiting family and will hit the stores on Black Friday.

“You get the paper on Thursday, check out the ads and decide what you want,” she said. “Then you figure out which store you’re going to and head straight for the deals.”

Russell’s brother, 25-year-old Justin Russell, is a Sacramentan who is also in the military.

“I’m going to be watching the kids while my wife and sister go shopping,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t want to go do that.”

Lana Hom, a 48-year-old nurse from Sacramento, said she will be going shopping with her family when the stores open at midnight on Thanksgiving.

“We’re planning to shop,” she said. “We’re going to leave dinner a little early and get to the stores.”

She added that she only shops in a small group, since having too many people would just slow them down.

For some, such as 16-year-old student Jose Guerra of West Sacramento, Black Friday is a good time to socialize and spend time with friends on a day off.

“Go to the mall and get a coffee to keep you warm,” he said. “I’m going to buy as many things as I can get good deals on, maybe an iPad, some shoes and a hat.”

For 43-year-old Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Black Friday isn’t the most important shopping day.

“There’s one sale a year that I do,” he said. “It’s the day after Christmas, when Nordstrom has their men’s suits and dress shirts on sale. I get up at 5:30 in the morning.”

Regarding Black Friday, Ault said he has found lately that a lot of deals can be had online that are similar to those in stores, and it’s not necessary to get up at 4 a.m.

“I don’t really look at Black Friday as the best time to get deals,” he said.

Do you have any Black Friday stories, deals or strategies you’d like to share? Let us know in the conversation below.

Pangaea opens bottle shop

2011-08-17T01:00:55Z

Local watering hole Pangaea Two Brews Cafe recently expanded its operations to include a bottle shop with about 200 beer selections. The bottle shop opened earlier this month, and owner Rob Archie said he has plans to add a delivery service in the Curtis Park neighborhood in September.

“We had our grand opening Aug. 6, and it was full in here all day,” Archie said. “The response has been really positive.”

Pangaea, located at 2743 Franklin Blvd., is marked by its selection of Belgian beers on tap, and Archie told The Sacramento Press in a previous article that he has long wanted to bring a bottle shop to offer those beers at to-go prices.

Beers are stored in a refrigerator spanning much of one wall of the bottle shop, which can be entered by the street or through an arched doorway from the adjacent cafe.

Another new feature that came with the bottle shop was a wine and cheese selection.

“We have some people who come in here, and as much as they might love beer, they sometimes want a glass of wine,” Archie said.

Wine selection includes chilled whites as well as reds in a rack along one wall, and he said the bottle selection is varied, with wines from the United States, France, Chile and other areas.

Coming sometime next month is a bicycle delivery service for the Curtis Park neighborhood.

“It’s a convenience for the area,” Archie said. “We will keep our website updated with what we have in stock, and people can order and have it delivered to them.”

To make it worthwhile, Archie said he will either have a minimum purchase requirement or a small charge for deliveries. For more information as it becomes available, check the website or Facebook page.

While bottles are priced for take out, patrons dining in the adjacent cafe can have bottles at their tables for a small corkage fee, depending on the size of the bottle.

“What’s cool about our system is (customers) don’t have to go over and buy it there and then come back to their table,” Archie said. “It’s all the same business, and it’s all connected, so they can just have it brought to their table and added onto the bill.”

Dave Morrow, craft beer manager for DBI Beverage, Inc., of Sacramento, a beer distributor, said the opening of the bottle shop is indicative of a growing trend in craft beers taking hold in Sacramento over the past couple of years.

“It’s really blown up,” he said, adding that the beer scene has become more sophisticated, and beer drinkers are increasingly treating the beverage with the respect and reverence often associated with wines.

Morrow said that even though there may be some expensive beers, the high-priced ones coming in bottles that hold about two pints are still much more affordable than their counterparts in the wine industry.

“You can come in here and literally have your pick of the best beers in the world,” Morrow said Tuesday as he perused the bottles in the shop. “And what’s great is anybody can afford it. You can get some of the best beers in the world for $10-$15 here.”

Archie said he has long wanted to have a bottle shop, and Morrow said he “nailed it.”

“If I won the lottery, this is exactly the bar I would build in my house,” Morrow said.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Co-op lawsuit won't be heard until after election

2011-07-29T01:48:45Z

A request for an expedited hearing by two shoppers suing the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op was denied Thursday, according to court documents, meaning that the case will not be heard before board elections this fall.

The lawsuit was brought against the co-op earlier this month and claims that the co-op is not following its bylaws as board members refuse to ban Israeli-made products from the store’s shelves.

According to the documents released Thursday, the plaintiffs, Maggie Coulter and Robin Kristufek, “will not suffer irreparable injury if the hearing is heard according to the Court’s normal procedures.”

It was unclear Thursday evening when the case will be heard.

Had the expedited hearing been granted, it would have occurred at 11 a.m. Friday at Sacramento County Superior Court.

“It won’t be heard until after the (co-op board) election,” Coulter said Thursday evening, calling the decision “a disappointment.”

Steven Maviglio, the co-op board’s president, said he is pleased with the court’s decision, but is not happy that Coulter plans to go forward with the lawsuit.

“It’s a real tragedy that she doesn’t understand what a damage this is to the store,” he said. “We will continue to educate our members about the dangers of the politicization of the co-op and the efforts of (the Boycott, Divest, Sanction [BDS] group).”

He added that the co-op will continue to fight the lawsuit.

To read more about the issues behind the lawsuit, click here.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

L Street Goodwill opens its doors

2011-06-24T19:22:03Z

A new “boutique” Goodwill store has opened its doors on L and 16th Streets, offering area shoppers a well organized, eco-friendly retail experience and deals on merchandise like books, lamps, shoes and purses.

Store manager Noelle McCrea said the L Street location is unique in that its stock is handpicked from Goodwill locations across the country. While other Goodwills accept and sell most all donations, a “boutique” Goodwill strives to feature name brands, high-quality and vintage goods.

Clothing is centrally located and sectioned into garment-specific, labeled racks, like: women’s plus size tops, long sleeve knit tops, lingerie, men’s jackets and men’s dress shirts.

The women’s section is stocked with summery skirts and sleeveless blouses in the $5 range, along with vintage Levis cut-off shorts and skirts for $20.

The “Goodwill Fashionista” racks, located on the store’s front left wall, are targeted toward younger, more trend-conscious shoppers and feature an array of knit tops and juniors-sized jeans from brands like American Eagle, DKNY, Gap and Ralph Lauren, priced in the $20 range.
Susan Finnerman, who came out to the opening in search of skirts, said she enjoys shopping at thrift stores that are well organized, noting that the Goodwill’s women’s shoe section is arranged by size, each shelf labeled with a corresponding number.

Mother of eight, Lisa Farnworth, whose youngest son tipped her off to the opening, said that she has tried to teach all of her children to appreciate the money-saving advantage of thrift stores.

Farnworth added that she’s not necessarily a “big green person,” but that recycling clothes makes sense to her.

“If I can (be eco-friendly), I will,” she said

Shopper Charlie Hamdeh, for whom “style is more important than brand name,” was pleased to find a pair of shiny, black leather loafers in a hard-to-come-by size 13, noting that elsewhere the same pair would have cost him a lot more than Goodwill’s $13 price tag.

Tony Coelho was driving by the store and decided to see what its DVD section had to offer.

Coelho said he “loves the surprises he finds in Goodwill,” and appreciates its selection of “classic movies” not always available in movie retailers like Blockbuster.

Having already found a few candles and a striped blouse, Barbara Wood was on the hunt for a Brandy glass amongst the store’s several shelves of glassware.

“Why pay 50 dollars for a glass when you can pay 50 cents,” she said.

The store’s glassware is slightly more expensive than at some other thrift stores, ranging in price from $3-$5, but the selection is sturdier and more attractive than what one might expect to find second-hand.

The shop’s book selection is vast and varied, housed on four curving, wooden shelves towards the back of the store. Hardbacks and softbacks are organized according to genres including: fiction, fantasy, women’s studies, history, cooking and self help.

Atop the bookshelves sit like-new lamps, in a variety of sizes and styles, from bulbous glass bases to sleek, muted shades, priced around $15.

According to Goodwill employee Nick Hammom, the sales team has been at work gathering stock for the 5,000-square-foot space since February. The team visually assessed every CD and DVD, checking them for scratches and misplaced discs before putting them on the sales floor.

The store’s employees gave soft goods donations the same critical treatment, discarding any items with holes, stains and even fuzz balls, Hammon said.

In addition to its supply of quality goods, McCrea said that the shop’s Midtown locale will likely made it a good source of revenue for Goodwill Industries, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide “gainful employment and job training” to under-served communities.

“Everyone knows retail is more pricey in Midtown, so we could capture a higher dollar value here,” McCrea said.

McCrea added that she was “thrilled” with the turnout for the store’s opening.

“Goodwill has a huge following. We’ve seen a lot of familiar faces today, and we hope to create a following in downtown Sacramento,” she said.

Council approves K Street redevelopment proposal

2011-06-22T07:22:40Z

The proposal for redevelopment of the 700 block of K Street received the nod of approval from City Council Tuesday night, opening the way for developers to move forward with the $47.7 million project.

With close to 64,000 square feet of retail space and more than 130 housing units, the project is designed to revitalize a long-ignored section of K Street with a diverse tenant mix of restaurants, boutique shops and a live music venue.

If all goes as planned, developers expect to begin construction in late January or early February of next year.

With their unanimous vote, council members approved the environmental impact and planning commission reports, and formalized a Developer Disposition Agreement (DDA), which spells out the terms of the redevelopment deal with the city.

Bay Miry, senior associate at D & S Development, one of the project’s development companies, said they anticipate the project will create approximately 300-400 construction jobs during the building phase, and another 400-500 permanent jobs from the 14 retail spaces being built into the development.

“We’re very excited and thankful for (the) council’s approval,” said Ali Youssefi of CFY Development, the other half of the 700 block development team. “Now it’s all about completing the plans, getting to construction and getting to the day when we can go out and enjoy the finished product.”

The next steps for Youssefi and Miry will be securing the remaining financing elements, including a conventional loan and a federal grant for redevelopment of blighted neighborhoods in distressed areas.

“We’re hoping that this will put us where we consider to be very solid ground,” said Beth Tincher, a senior project manager with the city's Economic Development Department.

Tincher described working with city planning and building officials on the project at every step as a “collaborative effort to ensure the success of the project.”

“They have indicated their willingness to work with us and help us to keep to the schedule we’ve outlined,” Tincher said.

The development team initially requested $16 million in existing city redevelopment assistance funds to go along with developers’ private investment of $1.5 million in cash equity and $18 million in conventional debt to develop the 700 block, Miry said.

As the project was being negotiated, however, the deal was revised so the city would contribute only $14.5 million, and developers increased the private investment of debt and equity to a total of $33 million.

The development team anticipates about 200 residents “living, working and playing” in the K Street area from the 137 apartments planned for the project, Miry said.

The developers anticipate the project will bring about 6,000 patrons to K Street every week.

Additionally, developers estimate about $1.6 million in annual sales tax revenue generated from the project, and another $330,000 annually in property tax.

“We really feel this project will encourage development in the surrounding underdeveloped, vacant, blighted parcels,” Miry said. “It’s a home run for the city, for sure.”

Photos of Bows and Arrows' new digs

2011-06-22T01:03:54Z

Vintage clothing store Bows and Arrows opened in its new Midtown location June 4, and the space is fitting the shop’s needs perfectly, according to co-owner Trisha Rhomberg.

Located at 1815 19th St. across from Safeway, the store now includes Fat Face cafe and is being called Bows Collective overall, so customers can pick up vintage clothes, sandwiches and something to drink – including beer and wine – at the same location.

Also incorporated in the new space is an art gallery.

The custom-made wooden bar is a focal point at the rear of the store, surrounded by rustic tables made by a friend of co-owners Rhomberg and Olivia Coelho from salvaged wood in front of the doorway to a patio, where more tables are interspersed with flowers to give a welcoming feel.

Rhomberg previously told The Sacramento Press that she wanted to give the feel of being in someone’s home while also being friendly to the environment.

To read more about Bows and Arrows’ new space and move, click here.

Co-op bylaw amendment stirs debate

2011-06-17T01:18:09Z

A proposed amendment to the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op bylaws is being seen by some as a necessary procedure to ensure equality, while others see it as an attempt to take the members’ voice away on certain issues.

All 12,000 co-op members will have the chance to vote on the amendment, which must pass with at least a two-thirds majority in the next election cycle, scheduled for late summer or fall, said Board Member and Policy Committee chairwoman Michelle Reynolds.

According to Reynolds, the amendment proposed at the June 7 board meeting is a procedural process designed to ensure that the co-op has written anti-discrimination policies in its bylaws after a restructuring of its policies for more efficiency started last May.

“We had to tweak our existing policies,” Reynolds said Thursday. “As a result, a lot of our nondiscrimination language went away. We wanted to create a place for it in the bylaws.”

She said such policies in bylaws are common in nonprofit organizations and co-ops across the country.

Those opposed to the change, which include a group that is currently seeking to ban Israeli products from being carried at the co-op, say the amendment will prevent boycotts of products based on national origin and political issues, as detailed in this article.

“It seems designed to try to create another obstacle to any kind of purchasing decisions based on any criteria as to policy and country of origin, which at worst would override anything like what the people were trying to do who were opposed to Israeli products,” said David Mandel, a co-op member since the mid-1980s.

Mandel is both Jewish and an Israeli citizen. He came to Sacramento a couple of months after immigrating to the United States in 1985. He is also a member of the Sacramento chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace and said he doesn’t necessarily support a blanket boycott of Israeli products, but supports boycotts of companies that profit from the occupation of Palestine.

Reynolds said it is possible that the amendment could block boycotts of products based on national origin, but that is not its intention. She said the amendment would have been introduced with or without the objections to Israeli products.

Last May, the board chose to adopt the Policy Governance system as its framework to increase efficiency in a move many similar organizations have taken, Reynolds said.

That framework left no place for the manner in which the nondiscrimination policies were previously written, prompting the current proposed amendment, she added.

Mandel said he thinks the amendment is unnecessary, since the organization’s existing bylaws as well as state and federal laws prohibit discrimination against membership or employment.

“It’s not necessary to any legitimate purpose,” he said. “I think the co-op board should have the ability to make purchasing decisions based on fair trade, environmental (issues) and politics. It should conceivably be able to decide against a certain country engaging in human rights violations.”

He added that, though he was not one of the initiators of the drive to ban Israeli products, he thinks it is a legitimate issue to consider, and he doesn’t want to see the co-op “tie its own hands” by preventing the discussion on an official level.

Reynolds said she feels the group trying to boycott Israeli products is “cherry-picking” the bylaws without looking at the whole set, comparing it to someone choosing only certain parts of the Bible or any other religious canon to follow.

To see a list of the co-op’s bylaws and policies, click here.

All board meetings – held at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month – are open to the public. They are held at 1914 Alhambra Blvd., in the co-op’s Community Learning Center. The next one is scheduled for July 5.

The co-op is located at 1900 Alhambra Blvd.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Future of Westfield Downtown Plaza in doubt

2011-04-29T00:06:15Z

Will Westfield Downtown Plaza be put up for sale?

According to the Wall Street Journal, Westfield is testing the market for a buyer for the mall, which has been plagued by empty storefronts.

In August, when the mall underwent a remodel, General Manager Russell Dougherty said it was only 65 percent occupied.

Westfield officials did not return phone calls for comment on their plans for the mall this week.

“The Mayor remains committed to working with Westfield and finding ways to make the plaza a viable entity in Sacramento,” said Joaquin McPeek, press secretary for Mayor Kevin Johnson. “At the end of the day, this is such a critical piece of downtown and we’ve all got to work together to see it reach its full potential.”

Johnson has previously said the city is “extremely committed” to reviving the mall.

“I don’t think we’re overly surprised with the announcement,” said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “We knew for a long time it wasn’t an asset that was paying off.”

Ault said the mall in the heart of downtown – straddling K Street from Third Street to Seventh Street – is an asset that is too big to let deteriorate, and if it does end up being sold, he said he hopes any potential new owner will be able to revitalize it.

“Westfield is one of the largest mall operators in the world,” he said. “If they didn’t make it work, maybe somebody needs to re-look at what it is.”

That could be an opportunity, to reconfigure it from a shopping mall to more of a mixed-use space including both retail and office space, he said.

But don’t look for it on Craigslist yet.

“At this point, they’ve just hired somebody to see if anybody is interested,” Ault said. “We’re not sure that anybody wants to buy it. We clearly don’t want to see it continue to deteriorate to the point that it starts to impact some of the new development.”

The downtown core has seen some successful recent development, with more on the way.

The trio of nightlife venues a few blocks down K Street, another nearby restaurant opening and the endorsing of the downtown railyards as the site for a new courthouse are spread around the mall.

Another player in the area is Macy’s, which owns its buildings in Downtown Plaza. The two separate downtown Macy’s stores on the plaza compose one of the biggest Macy’s stores in the state, Ault said.

“Macy’s represents a large part of why people continue to shop at Westfield,” Ault said. “No matter what happens at Westfield, we want to make sure we support Macy’s as well.”

Macy’s officials were not available for comment this week.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @brandon_darnell.

Midtown Clothing store closes

2011-01-12T01:30:03Z

The Upper Playground clothing store on J Street has closed, and a new store owned by a former Upper Playground manager will take its spot.

Aaron Hearing will open a new store in the same location, but he refused to comment on Upper Playground, saying, “It’s none of my business.”

Upper Playground, located at 2524 J St., was a locally owned franchise with corporate offices in San Francisco.

Other locations for the clothing store are in Seattle, Portland, Berkeley, Mexico City and London.

When The Sacramento Press contacted Upper Playground’s corporate office Dec. 15, officials claimed no knowledge of the store’s closing, though an employee who answered the phone at the Sacramento location said the business was going to “close and rebrand.”

Calls made to Upper Playground corporate offices Tuesday were not returned.

In December, a man claiming to be the owner of the local franchise contacted The Sacramento Press and denied that the business was closing or rebranding.

“It just sucks,” said Billy Ngo, owner of Kru, a Japanese restaurant on the same block as Upper Playground. “First we lost Haus, and then we lost Crazy Mary’s. It’ll be good to see someone else coming in.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Midtown Sidewalk Sale Hits the Streets

2010-09-16T21:58:36Z

This weekend, September 17th-19th, local shoppers can look forward to great deals and steals at the Midtown Sidewalk Sale. The Midtown Boutique District in conjunction with the Midtown Business Association are sponsoring the semi-annual event that will feature 28 stores and terrific savings. So grab your comfy walking shoes and be sure not to miss this exciting shopping opportunity that begins at 10am on Friday morning and lasts until 8pm on Sunday night. Whether you are a shopaholic or a just out to find a bargain, you will be sure to come across something that meets your fancy.

If you are looking to fill your closet with new fashion items for the fall, Bows & Arrows (1712 L Street) is definitely a place you will want to check out. This weekend their sales will include a $5 rack outside and 25% off the entire store. In addition to some exciting leather and fur pieces, they will also have a ton of jewelry including some rad rings and handmade feather earrings.

Denim Spot and Asha Yoga, located at the MARRS complex (1050 20th Street) will also be offering some hot deals. At Denim Spot, owner Pete Haynes is offering a special promotion just for the Sidewalk Sale! If you mention either the Sidewalk Sale or the Midtown Business Association, he will discount 30% off regular priced Joe’s Jeans. At Asha Yoga you will find merchandise that ranges from 30-50% off.

French Cuff Consignment Outlet (2419 J Street) is offering 50% off of all in-store inventory and additional discounts on select merchandise at their boutique location (2527 J Street). These are just some of the greats sales that you will find this weekend, so come on out and support our local boutiques at the Midtown Sidewalk Sale. Below is a listing of participating stores:

Artworks21 - 1812 J Street
Asha Yoga - 1050 20th Street
Bows & Arrows - 1712 L Street
Britt Steele - 2220 J Street
Cheap Thrills - 1209 21st Street
City Bicycle Works - 2419 K Street
Cuffs Urban Apparel - 2523 J Street
Denim Spot - 1050 20th Street
Ed's Threads - 1125 21st Street
Fig Tree Alley Fiber Arts - 2419 J Street
Fleat Feet Boutique - 2311 J Street
Fleat Feet Sports - 2315 J Street
French Cuff Consignment - 2527 J Street
French Cuff Outlet - 2419 J Street
HAVOC Urban Apparel - 918 24th Street
Ikon Cycles - 1126 18th Street
J's Beauty Supply - 2300 J Street
Midtown Bazaar - 16th & J Street
Prevues Boutique - 2417 K Street
Relles Florists - 2400 J Street
Ritz Camera - 2200 J Street
Sugar Shack - 2425 J Street
Sunlight of the Spirit - 2314 J Street
Swanbergs - 2316 J Street
The Book Collector - 1008 24th Street
Thunderhorse Vintage - 2522 J Street
Time Tested Books - 1114 21st Street
Yogurtagogo - 1801 L Street
Upper Playground - 2524 J Street

Disclosure Note: Amber Schmaeling is the Outreach Manager for the Midtown Business Association.

New retail store serves local DIY food and drink crowd

2010-09-07T00:41:21Z

The building at 3527 Broadway has been vacant for years, but is now home to a new business as of Aug. 1 – BFD.

Brew, Ferment, Distill owner Tim Clark said he wants to make his store a one-stop shop for Sacramentans who like to do their own beer brewing, winemaking, cheesemaking and any number of other do-it-yourself foods and drinks.

“This right here is entirely for the urban hippie,” Clark said. “It’s for the slow-food movement.”

Clark spent 13 years as a mortgage banker before “being unemployed at the right time” and deciding to start BFD.

“My wife is still warming up to the name,” he said with a laugh.

Doors opened Aug. 1, and Clark said he immediately sent e-mails to local brewers and vintners.

“People have been extremely gracious,” he said.

While beer- and winemaking products factor heavily into the store’s inventory, there are options for those who want to share the experience with the under-21 crowd, and no alcohol is actually sold.

“We wanted to make this business family-friendly,” Clark said as his two young children watched TV on a couch in the kids’ corner. “We have everything you need to make sodas, root beer, cheeses, even balsamic vinegar if you have the patience for it.”

Products for distillation are sold as well, though Clark was quick to point out that distilling spirits such as whiskey is illegal.

“It’s illegal to distill alcohol, but you use the products to distill water and essential oils from herbs,” he said.

Chris Pendarves owns the building and several others in the area, and he said it was vacant since before he purchased it in 2005.

“I think it’s a great, risky idea, and perfect for urban retail use,” he said. “People actually create stuff – it’s not all store-bought. It’s not a liquor store. It’s a different kind of retail.”

Josh Gibson, a friend of Clark’s who crafts his own beer, said he thinks the store gives people the opportunity to “put their hands on what they’re making, drinking and eating.”

In making their own food and beverages, he said, people get a better appreciation for the process and where they come from than purchasing them from the supermarket.

“Not only that, it’s absolutely fun,” he added.

Home-brewing beer is easy, according to Gibson and Clark.

“If you can make tea, you can make beer,” Clark said, adding that he buys as much of his products – such as hops and grains – as possible from local sources.

Basic beer-brewing starter kits are offered for sale at the store, and Clark said home brews can be done with as few as three hours of work or – pointing to Gibson – “you can make it as complicated as you want.”

Gibson said he enjoys crafting beers of all different styles and catering them to his personal tastes.

Clark said a good six-pack can be brewed for $5-$6 at home.

“It’s a cost-effective way to have your cake and eat it, too,” he said.

Brew, Ferment, Distill is open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mondays, noon-7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on weekends. The store is closed Tuesdays.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Beyond Gotham shutting doors

2010-08-21T00:59:58Z

A trendy Midtown boutique called Beyond Gotham is expected to close in mid-September — another victim of the poor economy.

Signs advertising a closing sale have already been taped to the windows of the store, which sells women's clothing and accessories at 1215 18th St.

Located on a popular block in the Handle District, the boutique was going strong until about two years ago. Female customers who would buy new jewelry every time they had Christmas parties, weddings and other special occasions to go to aren't making those purchases now, said an employee.

"Women are the first ones to stop buying for themselves in bad times," she said.

Rebecca Polstra and the store's other owners had originally planned to close the store in mid-August. But the store will remain open longer so more inventory can be sold, said another employee.

Store hours, which have been cut back, are 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sundays.

The owners closed the Beyond Gotham in Citrus Heights in March. The Midtown store originally sold mostly jeans and other clothing. Beyond Gotham then changed the inventory to focus on accessories including glittery rhinestone jewelry, purses, belts and other items.

"She worked very hard to make this a successful boutique," said one employee.

Polstra could not be reached for comment.

Couple trading Midtown corner for Mexico

2010-01-26T06:17:27Z

Sacramento will be losing more than the most eclectic greeting card shop in town when Etc. closes next week.

The city is also losing a one-of-a-kind neighborhood gathering spot. Owners Jeff Heald and Abdon Legrand — with help from a glittery, life-size chrome man standing sentry outside the shop — have welcomed shoppers and passersby to the corner of 21st and L streets for two decades.

The pair are closing their shop — previously known as Postcards Etc. — and moving to Mexico. They plan to open a new business: Café Como No (Cafe Why Not) in Punta de Mita, near Puerto Vallarta, said Heald, 57.

Heald grew up in the Sacramento area. However, 47-year-old Legrand grew up on the Gulf of Mexico in Tampico, Mexico. The couple, who have been together 28 years, want to return to Legrand's home country after vacationing there for 15 years.

The store has officially closed, but the pair are allowing customers in as they pack up. The store's last day is Monday. In the midst of a going-out-of-business sale, the pair said saying goodbye to friends in Sacramento is taking an emotional toll.

"We are overwhelmed at this point," Heald said, adding that it's become hard to talk about the impending move. "It's very bittersweet, because this has been a great, great run."

"We are going to miss people very much," Legrand said.

The store sold scented candles, gift items and local art in a part of Midtown known as Lavender Heights for its concentration of gay-owned businesses.

The store also sold cards. Lots and lots of cards.

There were handmade cards, Sacramento landmark cards, cowboy cards, Spanish language cards, Bat Mitzvah cards and gay-themed cards. The cards were unique, which made regular customers out of people like Midtown resident George Raya. He was at the store Sunday to buy cards and talk to Heald and Legrand.

"I'm into cards," Raya said. "I'm 60. I'm in that generation that believes in cards. Not just computer (e-mailed) cards. To me, that doesn't do it."

Heald and Legrand also have supported the gay community and local nonprofit causes for years. They've supported the Capitol Crossroads Gay Rodeo Association's rodeos and other events and fundraisers, Raya said.

"They've been around forever," said Raya, who's lived in Sacramento 46 years. "They were pillars. You went there for community news."

The silver mannequin sparkled on Sacramento summer days. During Sacramento's lesbian and gay-pride event, the Rainbow Festival, the chrome man held a rainbow-colored flag. He wore a Christmas stocking cap throughout the winter holidays. On other days, he'd just been lei'd.

He was actually the store's second mannequin. "Bob 2," or "Silver Bob," as he was also known, will now make his home at the Sacramento Art Complex, 2110 K St., in a suite belonging to artist Alister Oliver.

"More people ask about Bob than us," Legrand laughed Monday near closing time. "If you want to see Bob, that's where you have to go."

Heald and Legrand often set up a table, chairs and a shade umbrella outside the store, located at a well-traveled crossroads.

"They were super friendly. If you walked by, it was just natural to sit and talk with them for a while," Raya said. "There were two of them. So one could gossip and the other could work. And there was always someone there chatting them, because it was a friendly neighborhood spot."

The owner of another Lavender Heights business is reportedly talking with them about taking over greeting card sales in his own space. But the chrome man has already left that once-distinct corner as Heald and Legrand prepare to head south of the border.

"Sacramento doesn't have another place like Etc.," Raya said.

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff writer for the Sacramento Press.

From blog to store: Trailmix.Net all about kids' adventure

2009-12-23T22:29:19Z

Sara and Mike Barlow are one outdoorsy couple. They carved out their own trail to the fledgling store they opened in Old Sacramento, Trailmix.Net.

After falling in love in a small Idaho college town, they honeymooned in a remote cabin reached by water-taxi in Washington's North Cascades National Park.

Both were into hiking and camping in the Pacific Northwest. But they actually had to relocate to San Francisco to get more hardcore.

"It wasn't until we moved to California that we kind of went crazy with it," said Mike Barlow, 37. "We went though this shock of people congestion. So we would escape up into the Sierra. That was how we got our fix."

She took up backpacking with him and they both began rockclimbing. They were so into the outdoors that he started a blog, trailmix.net, to track their trips and collect information for future adventures. He worked as a quality assurance manager with biotech company Genentech. She worked as an accountant.

Then came the kids. Three, to be exact.

"We said, 'We can't exactly take the kids rock climbing,' " Mike Barlow said.

They didn't want to stop enjoying the outdoors. So they came up with adventures they could take with kids, and he began blogging about that. Trailmix.net developed quite a following among other parents. The Barlows slowly began adding kids' outdoor recreation merchandise to the blog.

Their first product: a $12 family scavenger hunt designed for Yosemite National Park. Barlow freely admits the online business didn't make a lot of money. They barely made enough to cover costs for a secure website. However, running the business had become a passion.

Outdoor merchandise for kids and parents began filling their living room, closets and every corner of their house.

"It took only a year before we were bursting at the seams," he said.

So last summer, they opened a store in the Mechanics Exchange, a building they fell in love with across from the California State Railroad Museum. The store, at 116B I St., carries products for adventurous kids and parents and educational toys focused on nature. The space is stocked with things like kids' snowshoes and gaiters, insect catchers and bug bungalows, Audubon field guides and astronomical charts.

"Everything we loved to do before we had kids is now this store," said Sara Barlow, 33. "It's all our activities, just toned down for kids."

Opening the store allowed them to add a greater range of items and to triple the merchandise, which is all in stock.

The couple schedules in-store activities including guest lectures from nature authors, musicians and artists. On Feb. 7, Trailmix.Net will host an event as part of the national Great Backyard Bird Count, which is taken each year. The Sacramento chapter of the National Audubon Society will teach a bird-counting course for kids and then lead people on a short walk to count birds in Old Sacramento.

On other days, children and their parents can sit down in the store's workshop and build bat houses or start a rock collection. That's a favorite space for their own kids: six-year-old Allison, 4-year-old Meghan and Noah, 2. Workshops are especially popular with stay-at-home moms and children's playgroups, Mike Barlow said.

The store also offers prizes to anyone —kids or adults — who completes a free Old Sacramento scavenger hunt. Most prizes are plastic dinosaurs and wooden chips good for a River City Saloon sarsaparilla. But a ski lift ticket to Sugar Bowl is also buried inside the treasure chest with the other prizes.

Now the Barlows put their adventurous spirit into this entrepreneurial endeavor. They haven't found another online business with the same combination: a publishing wing creating their own products, a retail store, an activity center for learning and a website.

Opening the brick-and-mortar store pushed Trailmix.Net to have its best online sales ever on this year's Cyber Monday, just after Thanksgiving, he said.

That never could have happened if Sara Barlow had let her first encounter with a bear scare her out of the mountains. That was on their honeymoon, when they were hiking back from a waterfall.

Mike Barlow remembered with a laugh the way a black bear tailed them down a mountain trail after he'd promised her they wouldn't see any bears the whole trip. The path was so steep that the bear was just about rolling down the mountain. They had to break into a light jog to stay ahead of the animal, he said.

"In her mind, it was like, 'Why is it catching up to us?' " he laughed. "I'm glad it didn't scare her from wanting to continually find new places to explore. The encounter with that bear kind of set the bar for future adventures. Had that not happened, our thirst for adventures wouldn't quite be what it is."

For event calendars or more information about the store, call 498-9090 or 888-95-TRAIL, or go to store.trailmix.net or blog.trailmix.net.

Photo of Allison, Meghan and Noah Barlow provided by their parents, Mike and Sara Barlow. Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Retailers hope for best this holiday

2009-12-10T04:28:29Z

Sacramento retailers are still feeling the bitter sting of the recession this holiday season.

Local merchants selling everything from kids' snowshoes to William Shatner's first album are mostly reporting decreased sales — although some say 2009 holiday sales haven't been as dire as predicted.

"I think the holiday season will be a disappointment to most merchants," said Ed Castro, who owns Ed's Threads at 1125 21st St. "I'm not shooting for the moon, so I'm not going to be disappointed."

With the country's economy in its third year of recession, retailers operating downtown and throughout the central city are struggling the same as retailers elsewhere.

Industry-wide, holiday retail sales are forecast to decrease by one percent to $437 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. While that's an improvement over last year's 3.4-percent decrease in holiday sales during the months of November and December, that number lags behind a 10-year average of 3.39 percent holiday growth.

Many local merchants say they'd be happy just to make the same amount of profit as last year. After all, customers are feeling the sting too, business owners said.

"We're hearing from people now that sales are better than they expected, but as good as they want? Probably not," said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. "I think we're really seeing people just holding their own."

Susan Larson, who's operated a gift store called Mixed Bag in Midtown for 29 years, said she's "cautiously optimistic" after sales have been a little ahead this holiday. The store, located at 2405 K St., stocked with items Larson described as hard to find online, won't show a profit and go into the black until mid-December, she said.

"I don't expect it to be like it was two or three years ago. But still, I'm looking for the slide to stop," she said. "I'm happy if we show a little progress or just are even."

The hottest item in her store has been a "feel-good, silly item" called a ROFFLE, a plush beast that rolls on the floor laughing. All 24 sold the first day they were in the store.

"What that tells me is people are depressed and they're looking for something that makes them feel good," she said.

While November sales were down four percent for Fleet Feet at 2311 J St., the entire year has brought at least a seven percent increase in sales, said Pat Sweeney, who owns the store and national franchise with wife Jan Sweeney.

Trailmix.net, which started as a local outdoor blog and then online store, had its best online sales ever on Cyber Monday, just after Thanksgiving — which owners Mike and Sara Barlow say was because they opened a brick-and-mortar store selling kids' outdoor gear and educational toys focused on nature just six months ago in Old Sacramento.

The store is stocked with things like wooden toboggons, kids' snowshoes and backpacks, Yosemite scavenger hunt maps and astronomical charts. In-store sales over Thanksgiving weekend and Cyber Monday were the best so far, even better than Gold Rush Days, Mike Barlow said. Still, sales are not going as well as they'd like.

"People have been conservative and we can't blame them for that," he said.

Some business owners declined to discuss sales figures. While a few retailers have had bright spots, others are experiencing sizeable decreases.

"What you read about the economy being down 30 to 40 percent is accurate," said Dal Basi, a manager at R5 Records & Video, which Tower Records founder Russ Solomon opened in his former Tower Records store at 16th Street and Broadway. "Sales are not spectacular, and from talking to other people around town, everybody else is in the same boat."

Macy's, Inc., which operates the flagship store in Westfield Downtown Plaza, reported a 6.3 percent decrease in total sales for November, down from $2.324 billion to $2.177 billion. The company expects December sales to be stronger at more than 850 Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores.

On the other end of the retail spectrum, sales at American Popcorn Company's popcorn wagon in Downtown Plaza are down 10 percent from last year, which was already down 15 percent from the year before, said owner Darlene Myers, who began the business with her late husband 25 years ago.

November and December are normally her two best months, but right now, with all the vacant stores in the plaza and K Street Mall, she said she's just trying to hang on to her business. Myers said she's optimistic sales will still pick up.

"Sometimes that last week right beore Christmas, people say, 'What the heck,' " she said. "Everybody caves in and says, 'We're having Christmas no matter what.' "

People buy more cheese popcorn, buttered popcorn and especially carmel corn during the cold winter months, she added.

"It smells like Christmas," Myers said. "If I have the bodies in the mall, I can sell them. All I need is the foot traffic."

To attract more customers in this tough market, retailers are offering sales, discounts and promotional items. They're also spending more time and money on product displays and lighting, Ault said.

"It's causing retailers to be more creative to get people in the door," he said.

Trent Harger, who opened Artworks 21 in Midtown in 2000, recently put up a huge, heart-shaped arched doorway over a gate to draw people to his store, which sells Mexican folk art, his original photos, books and other colorful, eclectic goods at 1812 J St. People have been getting their photos taken under it. Harger believes they may be posing for Christmas cards.

Fleet Feet drew people on Black Friday with a rare sale on electronics, books and sunglasses — items the store doesn't usually put on sale. Mixed Bag is giving away stuffed Christmas bears and snowmen with purchases at a certain amount.

Trailmix.Net is offering guest lecturers and activities for kids. Children and their parents can sit down in the store's workshop and paint reindeer ornaments or make picture frames using twigs and other natural items, Barlow said.

The store is also offering prizes to anyone — kids or adults — who completes a free Old Sacramento scavenger hunt. Most of the prizes are plastic dinosaurs and wooden chips good for a sarsaparilla at River City Saloon. But a ski lift ticket to Sugar Bowl is also buried inside the treasure chest with the other prizes.

At Ed's Threads, Castro draws people in by providing "very personalized" service when people come to shop at the only store in Sacramento dedicated to men's vintage clothing. While business has been a little down from last year, it's been consistent over the long haul, Castro said.

"I can't really complain when people all around me are failing," he said.

A self-described "clothes horse," Castro spends time working with men who come to buy for themselves and women or men who come to buy gifts — which are sweaters and jackets during the holidays. That service has drawn customers through word-of-mouth for 29 years.

"It's a labor of love," he said. "You don't do this for the money. You do it because you enjoy what you're doing."

Photos by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Report: J-K-L focus must be residents

2009-11-19T05:44:13Z

If you build it, they will come.

What's been said about baseball diamonds in Iowa is now being said for downtown Sacramento's future retail market, according to a retail consultancy firm that has just finished a study of the J-K-L corridor.

In this case, "they" represent 72 percent of the greater Sacramento area's 1.65 million population: "urban chic" Sacramentans who own homes in the central city; young, child-free metrorenters; "in style" suburbanites who love the gritty city; long-time residents and new homeowners living just outside the core; and connoisseurs who want the best of everything, said Scott Schuler with Downtown Works of Washington, D.C.

"You have got to draw people from the entire market. The number of people downtown is not enough," Schuler said Wednesday when the firm presented a draft report to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership board, Mayor Kevin Johnson and city employees. The figure is based on demographic and lifestyle data other companies have produced for Sacramento.

The news that Sacramento's historic retail core could thrive once more by catering to residents throughout the region was a surprise to those who have long thought the area should be developed to attract travelers and the most wealthy residents.

"That is enough to support downtown if we have the right kind of market," said DSP Chair Kipp Blewett. "The future of downtown is going to be in the renaissance of the urban core."

While visitors remain important to the economy, they spend much more on food and beverages than retail. In addition, visitors want to experience the real city, Schuler said.

"They want to go where residents go," he said. "You don't market to them."

The city has focused strongly on bringing more nightlife and entertainment to K Street Mall. But the area needs at least as many, and possibly more, day-time uses, said Midge McCauley, also with Downtown Works, which prepared the report for the DSP and the city.

Downtown Works studied groundfloor spaces on J, K and L streets between 7th and 12th streets, and on the sidestreets of 9th to 11th streets in that area. About 18,000 people live downtown in 700 single-residency occupancy hotels and 220 market-rate housing units. The area includes 700 single-residency occupancy units and 220 market-rate housing units. About 18,000 people are estimated to live within a one-mile radius of 9th and J streets — a number the consultants pointed out as too low to support retail in the J-K-L corridor. About 93,000 people work downtown, she said.

Out of 231 total spaces, 57, or 25 percent, are vacant. Many current storefronts are "shabby" and "dated." Sandwich board signs and dead plants, replaced with new landscaping only recently, pull the area down, McCauley said. Obstructed sight lines are another problem, said McCauley, who recommended removing ticket vending machines and ramps

Only 10 percent of the 174 that are occupied are dedicated to selling retail goods. And out of 103 retail spaces that house restaurants, clubs or shops selling goods, Downtown Works identified only 12 percent as desirable enough to keep, she said.

Quality retailers have unique, attractive storefronts with distinctive, eye-level signs and appealing window displays, good merchandise that is well organized and a clean, well-maintained store.

The proposed solution: hire a "retail recruiter" whose job is to find urban pioneers — innovative retail entrepreneurs from near and far willing to open up shop in the city's risky downtown retail corridor. Arm the recruiter with the latest data on available property and financial incentives to lure retailers who agree with the vision to revitalize the area, McCauley said.

Undesirable tenants could be phased out as their contracts come up. The retail mix needs much more variety, such as apparel, outdoor goods, shoes, accessories and home furnishings. The mix should be unique — not something already offered in shopping malls. Independent stores should be focused on first, and chains that aren't overly represented in the market should be considered later, she said.

They recommend allowing cars on the entire K Street Mall, rather than a one- or two-block pilot which people are unlikely to use. The firm also recommends lower-level planters over trees, which they said block sight lines, tear up sidewalks and obstruct signs.

"People love their trees but trees are a retailer's nightmare," McCauley said.

Programs could be developed to offer facade grants and forgiveable loans for businesses that remain for at least five years, with 20 percent of the loans forgiven each year. Downtown Works recommended the first three to five pioneers get loans of $300,000 to $500,000. Other new businesses that fit the vision might get $20,000 to $100,000, McCauley said.

"We know those early deals are often the hardest ones to make," said McCauley, adding that the first deal would take a year to a year and a half if a recruiter began work today.

The DSP board members now must agree on whether to support the recommendations and then vote on formal adoption in December. Blewett said it was too early to discuss funding sources for such programs. However, if the city were to provide $1 to $2 million from the general fund, that could generate much more tax revenue for the city, he said.

Blewett pointed to Sean Kohmescher, who owns Temple coffee and teahouse on 10th Street, as the type of urban pioneer the corridor needs more of.

"He's young. He's entrepreneurial. He's committed to downtown," Blewett said. "Look what he did with a lot of elbow grease and some guts."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Editor's Note: The Sacramento Press editorial department corrected a fact in the above article after the article was published. The original sentence is denoted with strike-through text, with the new sentence proceeding it.