Retail News: As One Store Shutters, Another Expands

Lighting and home goods store Rejuvenation opened its first Texas location last month in Uptown Park.
Image: Courtesy of Rejuvenation
It's a weird time for brick and mortar—this we know. Last month, Elaine Turner announced she was taking her beloved Houston-born accessories and women's apparel brand online only, and the very last storefront in Citycentre is scheduled to close today.
We also say goodbye to Baanou, the homegrown boutique from Maryam Afshari Khreibani in ultra-posh River Oaks District. Afshari Khreibani stocked upscale brands alongside her own house-made label, which she'll continue to sell online—Baanou's closure is strictly logistical: Afshari Khreibani and her family have relocated to Miami for her husband's job. Baanou fans scored major discounts on the last bit of inventory and one last glass of frosé in the shop's final days on Westheimer late last month.
But, as the saying goes, when one door store closes, another opens: Last month also saw the Houston arrival of home goods retailer Rejuvenation. The Portland, Oregon-based Williams-Sonoma affiliate opened its very first Texas store in Uptown Park, where a 5,100-square-foot showroom now houses handcrafted lighting, hardware, furniture, textiles, and vintage finds. Customers can also customize more than 500 light fixtures at the new location—the largest collection installed in any Rejuvenation store to date.
“We’ve been partnering with customers on projects in Texas for more than 40 years,” Rejuvenation executive vice president Ryan Ross said. “We are thrilled to call Houston home to our first showroom in the state and eager to further share our designs with local customers, architects, designers, and contractors.”
To that end, the new store is just three miles from Houston Design Center and less than two hours to Round Top, where the brand has sourced antiques for years. “Visitors will find these unique products—as well as other pieces collected around the world—within the Houston store,” a press release said.
More plans are underway for newcomers in 2019, too. The Lash Lounge, our favorite place for fabulous faux fringe, is coming to Kingwood by way of a 1,200-square-foot space in the Kings Crossing shopping center anchored by Randall's. A soft opening is scheduled for early 2019, and the first 250 people to sign up will receive a free service.
The new year is already proving auspicious for businesses with alliterative names—Houston-based cycling shop Bike Barn, which sells everything from helmets and apparel to car racks and BMX parts, has also announced plans to expand. Bike Barn will open its ninth location in the Shoppes at Memorial Villages, where a 6,000 square-foot spot will house the shop's custom bike fit studio, bike repair and service, maintenance clinics, bike trade-ins, kids’ bike trade-up program, and other community cycling services like financing and new rider essentials. The space is slated to open for business at the end of 2019.