Shop Talk
RANDOM NOTES: Forever 21’s new Twelve by Twelve collection will get its own retail store this fall, at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. The line, more sophisticated and about 35% more expensive than the retailer’s core product, was tested last year and already has its own Web site. Twelve by Twelve in-store boutiques are also in the works for a select number of Forever 21 locations.… Pendleton Woolen Mills premiered its new retail prototype, a renovated 3,830-sq.-ft. store in downtown Portland, Ore. Pendleton’s heritage (the company is one of the last remaining U.S. companies that weaves its fabric domestically) is reflected throughout the design, which combines the themes of weaving and fabric. The color palette mixes Pendleton blue with natural white oak wood walls. Vizwerks Inc., Portland, Ore., served as architect. With 70 stores nationwide, Pendleton is expanding its retail presence and plans to roll out the design to new and existing units. …Home-design products manufacturer Umbra has opened its first freestanding store, in its home base of Toronto. The exterior of the 7,000-sq.-ft., two-level building is wrapped in translucent pink cladding, while the interior is sleek, white and minimal. An “open concept” lounge area on the second floor serves as a space for new product launches, seminars and exhibits. The store also includes a design area where customers can watch a member of Umbra’s design team at work. Toronto firms Kohn Shnier Architects and Figure 3 (interior design) worked on the project.
NEW PROJECTS: The Portland, Ore., office of MulvannyG2 Architecture has been selected by Target Corp. to design stores in Hawaii and Alaska, both new markets for the chain. … ShopKo broke ground on its first, full-line store to be built in seven years, in Suamico, Wis. Designed by Chute Gerdeman Retail, Columbus, Ohio, the 80,000-sq.-ft. store will serve as the prototype for future ShopKo expansion. It features a warm, residential environment, and a layout that positions the pharmacy and optical center at the front of the store for added convenience.
UPCOMING EVENTS: The 2007 International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) will be held Sept. 19-21, at the InterContinental Buckhead, Atlanta. For details, visit
CORRECTION: The design feature in the June issue (“Desert Town Embraces Bristol Farms”) incorrectly stated that Palladeo designed the decor items. As the design firm for all Bristol Farms stores, DLEnglish Group created the Palm Desert design concept. The firm designed all the decor, including the sign package and specialty fixtures, and was involved in every aspect of the design. Palladeo fabricated and installed the decor, signage and specialty mill-work items.