WHO TO CALL: Fashion Editor Layne Christensen $85-2131 (118) 0 CETTE ES St OSE Ba aa EE oe NEWS photo Mike Wakefield WERNER GRIZMEK, general manager of Apperitiv Designs, brings - his Euro-style collections to Park Reyal South’s newly named Galleria. The store is one of several new additions to the mall. B& TV Listings. B Travel. Coolxx. You can say it is because of my glasses or because of my cap... but Jets face it it's just me: | am cool! Sizes infant to 16 CHRISSY'S Children’s Wear (since 1984} 1463 Bellevue Ave. West Vancouver 926-8737 ls for savvy sho West Van’s boutique scene ever-evolving OD KEEPS you humble if you're in retail,’ Lynne Stevenson cf West Vancouver’s legendary hat shop, Eleancr Mack, has been known to say good- naturedly. By Layne Christensen Fashion Reporter Retail is never an easy go. as Stevenson's comment seems to imply, but a flurry of activity in West Vancouver indicates that shop owners are doing their best to come up with new ideas and merchandise to catch the fancy of fickle shoppers. Stevenson moved her millinery out of Park Royal and into Walker Place, at 1453 Bellevue Avenue, at the end of February. With the good weather, colorful hat trees in the lobby have been drawing seawall walkers into her store. Further down the street at Bellevue Landing retail leasing has reached a feverous pitch. Following several months of vacancies and shop changeovers., the shopping consortium has landed a handful of new tenants including one especially big fish. Plum Clothing Co. moved in May 20, occupying 25% of the open-concept shopping centre's space. Plum’s presence has John Clark, president of Bellevue Fashion Group, the leaseholder, breathing a sigh of relief. “We're in great shape,” says Clark. Six months ago he couldn't have said the same. A rundown of the ups and downs of retail at Bellevue ‘Landing rivals an episode of Melrose Place but Clark does his best to recap the year's events. Plum replaces Ruby's. a lingerie boutique that closed September of last year, and the Bellevue Landing Boutique, an upscale ladies’ fashion boutique that left Jan. 10. In April. the gift shop Foghom Boutique moved into part of the space vacated by Bellevue Landing Boutique. Thornbury’s, which sells ladies’ novelty sweaters and sporting attire, came in to the mix when the Shoetree decided to reduce the size of its area. Thornbury’s, formerly operated by the owners of The Mensroom, Bellevue Landing’s only menswear retailer and an original tenant. came under new ownership in March. Original tenants 2 Cute 4 U, a children’s hair salon, and Welcome to the World, a children’s clothing store have remained since Bellevue Landing opened October 1993. Optique 2000 took over the concierge desk. what Clark amusingly calls the “kitchen counter,” last spring. The urea to the left of the entrance, formerly occu- pied by Luemas Gifts, is the only space that remains to be leased. But that's only 5% of the centre's total space and Clark is confident that will go fast. “J think it’s the only retail space left in West Vancouver,” he chuckles. And he may be right. Over at Fark Royal, leasing representative Deborah Orange can te sure she's doing her job. The north mall is fully leased and only a few spaces in the south mall are without long-term tenants, says Orange. Park Royal’s north mall is evolving into a strong des- tination for “lifestyle shopping,” says Orange. Lifestyle retailers, or stores with broad appeal, like See Galleria page 14 OFFERING THE BEST BRAND NAME EYEGLASSES & CONTACT LENSES AT THE BEST PRICES... Anis. 10 240" a SALE PRICE.:. ON SITE SURFACING LAB QUALITY 1 HOUR SERVICE ON MOST EYEGLASSES “ee! & REPAIRS WH ILE YOU SHOP... . “More for your fooks than just vision” © One hour service in many cases 1) Trained opticians - Personalized service 1) Best selling contact lenses & glasses at the best prices