Town Square, Tivoli Village add stores as holiday shopping season nears

With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, more than a dozen new stores and restaurants have already opened or soon will do so at the Town Square and the Tivoli Village shopping and entertainment centers in Las Vegas.

The tenant leases show renewed confidence in the Las Vegas retail market, said Mike Wethington, general manager of Town Square on the south Strip.

"We're definitely seeing strong demand from the leasing front," he said Monday. "We're opening six stores before the holiday and we've got some new tenants next year. I think slowly but surely, each day's getting better."

Town Square, which opened at the start of the recession in November 2007, continues to post year-over-year sales increases, Wethington said. Fashion boutique XTC took the 2,750-square-foot space formerly occupied by bankrupt retailer Metropark Clothing at Town Square, while Coconuts Beach bar and grill opened in October where Lolita's and Louis's Fish Camp once operated.

Sisters Fernanda and Vivien Bohme of Rio de Janeiro on Monday opened Bohme Boutique, a collection of tops, dresses and accessories for women. The Gold Guys, buyers of jewelry made of gold, silver and platinum, has also opened.

XTC carries the latest trends in party dresses and clubwear, including men's and women's contemporary and modern fashions. Shoppers will find popular brands as well as women's clothing by XTC. The store boasts a club and lounge atmosphere with a live disc jockey playing popular dance tracks.

Patty's Closet Fashion Boutique is scheduled to open in mid-November. Patty's has made a mark in the Las Vegas fashion industry by carrying two of every size and only selling the items once. As a result, women have less chance of buying and wearing the same outfit as someone else.

I Love Burgers, a restaurant serving premium gourmet burgers, and Bakers, a national retailer of women's shoes and accessories, are expected to open this month, Wethington said.

"Sometimes it's just a matter of getting permits signed off," he said.

Tivoli Village announced 11 new tenants coming to the upscale shopping center and office park at Alta Drive and Rampart Boulevard, the most since it opened in April.

It's a result of advanced planning and hard work that's taken place between retailers and leasing agents at Tivoli Village, general manager Christi Yarnell said Monday.

"They look at the big picture and realize we opened at a challenging time," she said. "This is our first holiday season and there's a lot of excitement. We've got some entertainment planned and we're giving people a feel for what we plan to grow on."

New merchants now open at Tivoli include BluNoir, women's neo-vintage apparel and accessories; and Cucina Olive Oil, offering an assortment of flavor-infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

Coming this month are Brookstone, a nationwide specialty retailer; and Pandora, a seller of hand-finished and modern jewelry. Bottles + Burgers, the latest venture of Double Helix restaurant brand, and The Strand cocktail lounge and restaurant are coming in December.

Opening in early 2012 at Tivoli are David Barton Gym, Kabuki Japanese restaurant and Parmida Home luxuries and gifts.

The combination of national retailers, along with unique boutique shops, assorted eateries and live entertainment each weekend, makes Tivoli Village a distinctive shopping venue, Yarnell said.

"People are still shopping and spending money," she said. "The confidence level has a lot to do with it."

New retailers will add jobs to the market and hopefully contribute positively to sales numbers, Town Square's Wethington said. Town Square now has about 3,000 employees.

Wethington said he expects to announce a replacement tenant for the closed 22,000-square-foot Borders bookstore at Town Square early next year.

Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.