As soon as Grand Rapids entrepreneur Nikki Dykstra experienced the charm and allure of the Trade Center Building in downtown Grand Rapids, she knew it was the perfect place to open a second location of
Lee & Birch, a women's fashion and home decor boutique.
Dykstra owns the original Lee & Birch shop at 255 Seminole Rd. in Muskegon and had plans to expand to Grand Rapids late next year. But Dykstra, an interior designer, fell in love with the building (50 Louis St. NW) and seized the opportunity. She opened a temporary store the day before ArtPrize 2010 began and hopes to be in the store's more permanent location in the building by "Black Friday," Nov. 26.
"I love downtown, there are so many restaurants and bars, but there's not a lot of shopping," Dykstra says. "I hope we can bring in more of a retail area. The
JW Marriott and the
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel are right there close by. We've already had hotel people stop by and ask for flyers so they can direct guests here."
The store offers a variety of women's fashions, jewelry, handbags and shoes, plus home décor and gift items. Brand names include
French Connection,
BB Dakota,
Free People and
Citizens of Humanity.
"Citizens of Humanity has really nice denims and we always carry their basic boot cut jeans," says General Manager Rochelle Johnson. "They also have really great skinny jeans. And we carry
David Kahn Jeans, which is a nice brand for older women. They're a really good fit with a bit of a higher rise, but still a nice contemporary look."
Earlier this summer, the store launched its web site where customers can shop online.
Store hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday 11 to 6.
Source: Nikki Dykstra and Rochelle Johnson, Lee & Birch
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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