Lake Forest Town Center is celebrating its grand opening this evening, Thursday, May 12, 2016. Great Harvest 54, Peacocks & Pearls, Bushay’s (Men’s Boutique and Home Décor), Orange Leaf 54, and Fetta 54 are all participating in the grand opening.
Festivities include:
Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m.- WBKR broadcasting from 3 – 6 p.m.
- Musician Shawn Beshear performing from 6 – 8 p.m.
- Balloons for kids
- Sidewalk sales
- Sidewalk lemonade stand
- Drawings every hour for gift certificates (after 3 p.m.)
- Food and drink specials and samples in the restaurants
- Sales in both boutiques
- Door prize drawings, including a pair of Bed Stu Boots from Peacocks & Pearls
Peacocks & Pearls and Great Harvest were the first to open in Lake Forest Town Center. Followed by Fetta 54, Orangle Leaf 54, and most recently, Bushay’s.
A second building with four more businesses is nearing completion. A sign for Big O Bikes hangs above one of the storefronts. Two more business are confirmed, and one more space is still available for rent.
The owner of Peacocks & Pearls, Deanna Johnson, has become the unofficial spokesperson for the Town Center businesses. “I felt a little unsure at first about moving out this far,” Johnson admitted, “but it’s been a great move for us. Our sales have increased by 30% since moving out here.”
The shop was previously at another location on 54. The difference, she says, is having businesses around you that have the same amount of foot traffic.
It shows. The parking lot is full every day at lunch.
The parking lot is full every day at lunch.
“We all help each other,” Deanna said, referring to her neighboring businesses. “It feels like a family.”
For Johnson, the reason for relocating to Town Center came down to more space. “It was a customer-based decision. This location doubled our space. We have more dressing rooms, so there’s no more waiting in line. We carry more lines of jeans and shoes now because we can hold more inventory. And this place is more kid friendly, too. We have a kids’ area now, and there’s enough room for strollers. We were cramped before.”
