In place of a Gap Kids is a custom stationery store.
By: Jennifer Potash
Shunning national chains and perhaps national trends downtown Princeton is attracting smaller boutiques and regional chains, many of which are moving in this summer.
Adding to the changing retail picture, old favorites have launched expansions or are about to move to new locations downtown.
The most home-grown is Victoria KitKat, owned by Princeton resident Chantal Palmer, which offers her own label of vintage-inspired clothing.
For the past two weekends, Ms. Palmer, of Mercer Street, displayed her wares at the former location of Le Plume et Papier, 41 Palmer Square West. She had previously sold the original pieces by appointment only.
In that short span, she sold half of her entire line of original A-line skirts made from various vintage fabrics with vintage brooches on delicate ribbon belts. She also carries vintage clothing, ranging from a 1920s flapper dress to 1960s handbags to 1970s leather trench coats and other accessories gleaned from estate sales.
Ms. Palmer has also partnered with Princeton-based jewelry designer Darlene Popkey, who designs under the name Dodi, for beaded necklaces designed around the vintage flower and butterfly brooches in the Victoria KitKat line.
Palmer Square offered her one of the vacant storefront windows to display her designs, and that led to an offer to use the empty store for a single Saturday, Ms. Palmer said.
The reaction of shoppers surprised Ms. Palmer. Teenage shoppers as well as women in their 50s snapped up the patterned skirts, ranging in price from $185 to $225, she said.
The store will likely be leased to an existing Palmer Square tenant, so Ms. Palmer will continue to show her fashions by appointment. She hopes to find a partner to make a retail store a reality.
For an appointment, call Ms. Palmer at (609) 252-1714.
Palmer Square recently filled one of its larger empty spaces the former Gap Kids space on Hulfish Street.
The Papery, an upscale custom stationery store, opened July 9 at the former Gap Kids space. Dick Visconti is the principal owner.
Joining him in the new store as partners are his stepdaughters, Laura Weber, 25, and Christine Weber, 26, who have worked in his stores since they were teenagers, Mr. Visconti said.
The core of the businesses is custom, high-quality invitations and announcements, with the most demand for weddings and new baby announcements, Mr. Visconti said.
A stationery store may seem quaint in the electronic age, but Mr. Visconti has found the opposite to be true.
"People get so much e-mail at home, at work, that another message seems so ho-hum," Mr. Visconti said. "People appreciate a hand-written note on a beautiful card so much more."
The Papery also offers quality stationery such as Crane’s, unique greeting cards, gift wrap, paper tableware, photo albums, leather journals and albums and day planners from Filofax and Kate Spade.
The business began as a card and gift store, but Mr. Visconti decided to abandon that format for a more specialized announcement and invitation boutique.
"Now you can buy a Hallmark card in a CVS or a Kmart and I couldn’t compete with a Kmart or a Wal-Mart," Mr. Visconti said. Since 1998, the chain has grown to nine locations.
And to capture the summer restaurant-going foot traffic, The Papery will remain open until 9 p.m. on Saturdays, Mr. Visconti said.
David Newton, vice president of Palmer Square Management LLC, said the remaining vacancies will soon be filled up.
The square will also get a long-hoped-for business men’s clothing.
Savioni will move into the former home of Le Sportsac, Mr. Newton said. The new store will sell Italian designer and men’s clothing, he said. The store has other locations in Manhattan and New Hope, Pa.
The former Jaeger’s, a women’s clothing store at 47 Palmer Square West, has been leased, Mr. Newton said, adding that it is premature to disclose the name of the new tenant.
As American Express will soon leave its office space at the corner of Hulfish and Chambers streets, Mr. Newton said that locale has a strong potential for a restaurant.
Since the departure of Camber’s Café at 35 Palmer Square West last year, the square is seeking another eatery, Mr. Newton said.
The newest tenants signal a new direction for Palmer Square.
"I think you’ll see Palmer Square having less chains and more café food service and boutiques," Mr. Newton said.
Witherspoon Street has also picked up a new tenant recently.
Les Cinq Sens, at 72 Witherspoon St., is a boutique selling funky and unique jewelry related to the trend-setting female characters on the sitcom "Friends." Opened in early June, the shop, located between Hulfish Street and Paul Robeson Place, replaces the former Phil Kramer Photographers studio.
Other downtown mainstays have expanded current locations or moved to a new spot.
The Carousel, a luncheonette on the east end of Nassau Street, is slated to move to the former Vibes record shop.
The shop’s new locale has been a mystery, but a close look at the new sign over the front door backwards, at night, when back-lit reveals the words "Carousel, Breakfast Lunch, Dinner, Dessert." Carousel co-owner David Schneider could not be reached for comment Monday.
Zorba’s Brother, a Greek-American restaurant, opened at 80 Nassau St. on Monday.
The new restaurant has a sister, so to speak: the take-out Zorba’s Grill at 183 Nassau St. behind Thomas Sweet Ice Cream. A message left for the restaurant owner was not returned Monday.