After 20 years of renting, a Carytown women’s clothing shop has bought its own building.
Phoenix will soon close its doors at 3039 W. Cary St. and reopen in the space next door at the corner of Belmont Avenue.
Owner K McCarthy said she was on the brink of retiring last year but decided to keep plugging along.
“I had an opportunity to buy my own building, and that doesn’t come up very often,” said McCarthy, 59.
She purchased a 4,000-square-foot space at 3101 W. Cary St. in December 2010. The space was previously occupied by Associated Photography, which closed after 40 years in business.
“When this space came on the market, it was perfect. It was right next door,” she said.
McCarthy also runs a separate store next to the new location that sells marked-down items. She plans to keep it open until the end of the year.
Phoenix opened in Charlottesville in August 1977. The Carytown location opened in 1991 and sells high-end clothes, shoes and accessories, including such brands as Babette, Lilith and Rundholz.
“We’re bringing New York and European designers to Richmond,” she said.
McCarthy said the new store would be bigger, feature an extensive shoe collection and cater to a younger crowd.
“I’ve wanted to do a shoe store,” she said. “We’re keeping the same lines and adding some news ones to get a younger clientele.”
“If you don’t try to appeal to a younger customer, your business isn’t going to survive,” McCarthy added.
McCarthy also sells shoes through her shop’s website.
And although she wasn’t sure about starting fresh this late in the game, McCarthy said where to start was never a question.
“When you spend 20 years building clientele, it’s just stupid to move,” she said.
McCarthy isn’t the only one making moves in the Carytown retail scene.
Clementine, an upscale consignment shop, is operating in a temporary space until its bigger location is complete.
Renovations for a new restaurant at the former Glass & Powder shop and a new yogurt shop are also on the way.
Since she bought the space last year, McCarthy has been getting ready for the new store.
She wouldn’t discuss how much renovations cost but noted that she gutted the entire place.
“It was a total renovation,” she said. “Everything is new.”
McCarthy said business has been up and down at the Carytown shop, but she’s confident her customers will follow her to the new store.
She plans to open the new store Oct. 17.
After 20 years of renting, a Carytown women’s clothing shop has bought its own building.
Phoenix will soon close its doors at 3039 W. Cary St. and reopen in the space next door at the corner of Belmont Avenue.
Owner K McCarthy said she was on the brink of retiring last year but decided to keep plugging along.
“I had an opportunity to buy my own building, and that doesn’t come up very often,” said McCarthy, 59.
She purchased a 4,000-square-foot space at 3101 W. Cary St. in December 2010. The space was previously occupied by Associated Photography, which closed after 40 years in business.
“When this space came on the market, it was perfect. It was right next door,” she said.
McCarthy also runs a separate store next to the new location that sells marked-down items. She plans to keep it open until the end of the year.
Phoenix opened in Charlottesville in August 1977. The Carytown location opened in 1991 and sells high-end clothes, shoes and accessories, including such brands as Babette, Lilith and Rundholz.
“We’re bringing New York and European designers to Richmond,” she said.
McCarthy said the new store would be bigger, feature an extensive shoe collection and cater to a younger crowd.
“I’ve wanted to do a shoe store,” she said. “We’re keeping the same lines and adding some news ones to get a younger clientele.”
“If you don’t try to appeal to a younger customer, your business isn’t going to survive,” McCarthy added.
McCarthy also sells shoes through her shop’s website.
And although she wasn’t sure about starting fresh this late in the game, McCarthy said where to start was never a question.
“When you spend 20 years building clientele, it’s just stupid to move,” she said.
McCarthy isn’t the only one making moves in the Carytown retail scene.
Clementine, an upscale consignment shop, is operating in a temporary space until its bigger location is complete.
Renovations for a new restaurant at the former Glass & Powder shop and a new yogurt shop are also on the way.
Since she bought the space last year, McCarthy has been getting ready for the new store.
She wouldn’t discuss how much renovations cost but noted that she gutted the entire place.
“It was a total renovation,” she said. “Everything is new.”
McCarthy said business has been up and down at the Carytown shop, but she’s confident her customers will follow her to the new store.
She plans to open the new store Oct. 17.
Way to go K! You did it. Best of luck to you in your new location.