Downtown retail picks up steam with new stores

|tab|

by Eric Olson|ret||ret||tab|

SBJ Reporter|ret||ret||tab|

eolson@sbj.net|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

As big-box redevelopment plans spread like wildfire downtown, new retailers and eateries are sprouting.|ret||ret||tab|

Two women's clothing shops are following the leads of Staxx and Ms. Brown's, which opened this year across the street from each other at South Avenue and Walnut. |ret||ret||tab|

Shae Belle and Prima Donna plan September openings.|ret||ret||tab|

The women behind the new stores say there can't be too much shopping downtown.|ret||ret||tab|

"The more the merrier is my opinion. People are more apt to come down for four places than one," said Shannon Merced, who's opening Shae Belle, an urban fashion boutique for women, at 322 S. Campbell Ave. |ret||ret||tab|

She and husband Orlando Merced bought the building in April. For nearly 50 years, it was Rebori's Shoes.|ret||ret||tab|

Prima Donna owner Ashley Ramsdell will lease space in the Holland Building at the northeast corner of Park Central Square. |ret||ret||tab|

She said it was a no-brainer selecting downtown for her women's boutique, which she calls professional, yet trendy.|ret||ret||tab|

"I really wanted to go downtown because the stuff that I'm bringing is new and trendy and I think that's really where everything is happening in Springfield, along those lines," Ramsdell said.|ret||ret||tab|

While both shops have surface parking lots nearby, the owners were glad to hear talks of a new Heer's parking garage.|ret||ret||tab|

"I'm very excited about that," Ramsdell said. "I think that will be excellent for downtown."|ret||ret||tab|

Downtown Realtor Skip Liebman, who is the buyer's agent on the Heer's sale and responsible for filling it with tenants, is a bit surprised by retail's resurgence, compared to revitalizations in other cities.|ret||ret||tab|

"In redevelopment, retail is the last to happen," Liebman said. "It is already happening here."|ret||ret||tab|

While the restaurant industry has long been a trademark of downtown Springfield, the menu is often changing.|ret||ret||tab|

|ret||ret||tab|

Eatery news|ret||ret||tab|

The Epicurean, which Tony Choe opened in February 2003 at 314 W. Walnut, is out. Emack & Bolio's is in.|ret||ret||tab|

Emack & Bolio's ice cream shop, which also serves lunch fare, opened in June at 216 E. Walnut, in the Seville Hotel. |ret||ret||tab|

Owners Steve and Debbie Bingham brought the Boston-based chain to Springfield via licensing agreement. It is only the second store outside of the northeast, said Steve Bingham. Orlando, Fla., also has one.|ret||ret||tab|

Around the corner at 301 South Avenue, veteran restaurateur Nick Russo plans to open St. Michael's Grade School, An Educational Sports Bar & Grill. It is named after the grade school he attended in New Jersey.|ret||ret||tab|

Russo, a full-time English teacher and cross-country coach at Catholic High School, just can't take the school out of him.|ret||ret||tab|

"I love (teaching) and I don't want to move away from it," Russo said.|ret||ret||tab|

A zest for cooking and an opportunity downtown prompted his next move. Russo will continue to operate Russo's Caf at National and Battlefield, but looks to open St. Michael's in August in the former Parrino's Deli spot. He signed the lease July 14.|ret||ret||tab|

[[In-content Ad]]