About three years ago, I wrote a story about women business owners who were contributing to the revitalization of downtown Yakima by opening shops there.
For the story, I interviewed Michelle Wyles, a long-time antiques owner who had just opened Garden Dance, a garden-themed home furnishings store.
The store’s concept evolved in the nearly three years it was in business, as antiques and gardening knick-knacks turned into form-fitting jackets and funky shoes.
Last fall, the storefront at the Opera House became too small for the store’s growing clothing racks,tiffany bracelets, and Wyles relocated her shop to the former Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight station at Front Street and Yakima Avenue, which provided triple the space.
Now, Wyles is embarking on yet another venture.
Downtown men’s clothing shop planned for summer
Wyles is looking to lease 700 square feet from the BNSF freight station building to open Raindance, men’s clothing store next door to Garden Dance.
It was an easy decision to locate the new business in the same building. Its location has been an asset, Wyles said, especially in the summer when out-of-town visitors make up as much as 30 percent of sales.
Garden Dance already stocks some men’s items, which will make their way to the new shop. There will be entrances from Garden Dance and the street, and the clerks will likely work at both stores.
The shop will focus on more casual and "funky" items rather than formal suits, which other men’s clothing stores already offer, Wyles said.
"We truly anticipate, in the beginning, it will be women buying clothes for men," Wyles said. "We hope to work into that market to (eventually) sell directly to men."
Only 24-hour Walgreens store reduces its hours
After more than two years as a 24-hour pharmacy, the Walgreens store at 40th and Summitview avenues has reduced its hours.
With the downturn in the economy and more competition from the arrival of other Walgreens locations and the new Walmart supercenter, business did not allow the store to stay open 24 hours, said store manager Dennis Vanover.
"It just didn’t make sense for us to open," he said.
If business improves, there is a possibility that the store, the first Walgreens location in Yakima,tiffany pendants, may reinstate 24-hour service.
The new hours for the store are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The pharmacy is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Paint store opens in West Valley
Yakima Paint, Door and Decor is open for business.
At 1102 S. 40th Ave.,tiffany necklaces, just off Nob Hill Boulevard, it’s a full-line retail paint store. Along with paint and accessories, the store also sells doors and other millwork.
So far, the store, which has four employees, has attracted a mix of homeowners working on home improvement projects and contractors working on home renovations and new construction,tiffany rings, said Blaine Cyr, the store’s manager.
"Everything is pretty much word of mouth," he said. "We’ve done a little advertising but not a ton."
The store is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays.
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–Mai Hoang’s Reporter’s Notebook is published Mondays in the Your Money section. To reach her, call 509-577-7685 or e-mail mhoang@yakimaherald.com.
