Bucking the Trend at One Novato Shopping Center

With an occupancy rate of 100 percent at shopping center, perhaps it's true that we may be coming out of the recession. The shopping center is so full, it is leasing lawn and parking lot space for seasonal merchants.

Kathy DeOchoa, Vintage Oak's general manager, attributes the center's remarkable full capacity at least in part to geography. "Novato is in unique location. (It) draws people from the north and the south, so it's a great place to be," she said. 

The last, large vacant space was the former Shane Co. building (which some of you may remember as the Olive Garden long, long ago). Construction just began on new restaurant and live music venue, Southern Pacific Smokehouse. Read more about the restaurant in GraceAnn Walden's recent Scoop column .  

DeOchoa said the center is exploring its options for uses of the oak knoll open space a few steps east of the future site of Southern Pacific Smokehouse. The restaurant's outdoor patio will face the knoll, and the center's management is planning to make the space more open to the public. Right now, a Christmas tree lot occupies the space. 

Other changes in store for Vintage Oaks include renovating the facade across from . The old facade had large stone arches, which blocked visibility of the tenants, according to DeOchoa. The stone arches are coming down, and a new facade will be installed with unique awnings for each tenant.

In the past three months, three new businesses, Wild Birds Unlimited, Tutti Melon frozen yogurt, and, most recently, Justice, have opened at the shopping center.  The newest of the three, Justice, opened Nov. 26 — just in time for Black Friday — across from , between and . 

Justice filled a space previously occupied by two other stores, and Site For Sore Eyes, which relocated elsewhere in the center to accommodate Justice. It's a little like rearranging furniture in the living room to make space for the new sectional sofa. 

Marin Beauty Company is now around the corner from , across from . Site For Sore Eyes moved upstairs from its previous location, next to Vintage Oaks Dental Group. 

Justice is a girls clothing and accessory store with a selection of popular toys to round things out. I walked in to the tunes of Taylor Swift playing overhead, and immediately identified the target market — tween girls, ages 7-14. Justice is part of a nationwide chain of clothing stores owned by parent company The Limited. In 2003, The Limited created Justice to sell styles similar to its other children's clothing store, Limited Too, but at more affordable prices. In 2008, the Limited Too and Justice brands reintegrated and became one brand, Justice.

Justice's Novato store manager, Nicole Creyselles, said the store will have 12-20 employees, most of whom are Novato residents.  

Business Shorts

Award Winning Novato Business. Another Vintage Oaks business, Novato's , recently won a prestigious, regional award. Competing against a field of 81 hair salons from nine Bay Area counties, Novato's NH2 Salon won the Best of the Bay Award for bridal hair in the Bay Bella Publishing competition on Nov. 18.

Salon owner Nicole Hitchcock created a 1940s-style, Spanish-inspired hair style on employee and hair model, Alanna White. Celebrity judges Billy Lowe and Kim Vo from the Bravo network show, "Sheer Genius," chose her creation as the winner for its "timeless" look. After competing against the "very, very talented" field of hair stylists from Marin and the entire Bay Area, Hitchcock is already planning her next competition entry for the 2011 North American Hairdressing Awards in Las Vegas. 

Millita Walker, owner of , Best of the Bay floral category competitor, said "It was a stiff competition, but as soon as I saw [Hitchcock's] hair model, I knew she would walk away with it." Although Walker did not win first place in her category, she, too, plans to enter more competitions.

Coming Attractions. Several new businesses are coming to Novato soon.  On Grant Avenue alone, Rustic Bakery, Duarteau Boutique and Batika India Bistro are preparing to open their doors. However, Old Town Artworks is preparing to close its doors in mid-January.

Over at Nave Center, next to the post office, Ghiringhelli Pizzeria Grill & Bar is scheduled to open sometime in December.

Dare we say Novato's business climate is picking up? Perhaps.