Boutique to open ‘sparkle bar’ in store

Arboretum, the fashion conscious clothing store in downtown
Healdsburg, is making plans to build a “sparkling bar” in their
retail space after receiving approval from the city last week.
“We are looking to enhance the shopping experience by offering
sparkling beverage service,” said co-owner Kate Morison. “We are
calling it ‘the salon’ with seating and tables to socialize, shop,
and sip.”
The project proposal asked for approval on building a small bar
near the middle of the store that will serve approximately 12 to 15
customers sparkling wine and other non-alcoholic bubbling
beverages.
“I think it will be a unique arrangement, it remains to be seen
how it will work,” said Healdsburg Senior Planner Lynn
Goldberg.
Goldberg noted that the approval, in-part, was awarded due to
the fact that this concept does not hold precedence on alcohol and
that the retail operating hours will be the same as the sparkling
bar hours.
The concept, SPARKLING, is described as a “sipping station” that
will ultimately enhance the customer experience and “incorporate
happiness directly into their personal style.”
The owners have recruited 14feet. co-owner Marne Dupere to help
with the design of the bar and have plans to create a colorful yet
sophisticated lounge area.
“Marne is going to be helping us with our interior and she has
an excellent eye, she has great taste and we are looking forward to
that process,” said co-owner Andrea Barrett.
The business will remain true to its concept and the retail
space will continue to offer the same products. The sparkling bar
will act as an additional service for customers and visitors.
“This is kind-of a new category, this project, we are primarily
a shop and will be offering beverage service but it won’t be like a
tasting room where the point is the beverage, it is not like a wine
bar,” said Morison.
Five years ago, business partners Andrea Barrett and Kate
Morison opened the doors to their ethical clothing store in
Healdsburg to provide customers with clothing options with a
cause.
“We noticed an upcoming trend and this new concept with the
green clothing movement, the whole eco-fashion rising, so we honed
in on that to try to make it work for our store,” said Morison.
The two women have been friends for years and both come from a
retail background. They were looking for a way to make retail
shopping “more relevant” in the sense that they wanted to offer
eco-friendly fashions and ethical buying options.
“At first there were not a lot of options available to us in
terms of designers and collections that we could carry that would
be appropriate and fall under the umbrella of ethical apparel,”
said Morison. “But with time, the whole movement got a lot more
momentum and then there were tons of good options.”
Hundreds of hours of research led the storeowners to finding the
designers that they wanted to carry that would fit their store
concept.
“We were a bit concerned that they was not enough out there that
we like and that speaks to us but after not too long these great
designers came out of the woodwork and our search became a lot less
aggressive,” said Barrett.
Arboretum currently carries designers such as Rag & Bone,
Organic, Nature vs. Future, stewart + brown, and Kim White
handbags. The store offers everything from men and women’s clothing
to accessories and shoes.
To find out more about Arboretum or to shop online, visit
www.arboretumapparel.com.
Robin Hug can be reached at Ro***@hb*****.com.