Candy shop, interior design brokers fill two local storefronts

Forty-year-old Paul Balikian did not know what kind of business he wanted to open, but he knew where he wanted to open it.

"From the start, it was always a business downtown," he said. "I wanted to be a part of downtown, to contribute in a way that was maybe unexpected."

He did. Balikian opened the Sweet Spot Candy Shop, a small store selling candy - a business one might find in small-town America . Balikian opened his shop Nov. 2 and said it's been a daily adventure since.

"Of course, I had a real estate agent helping me, but oftentimes, I'd just wander around down here. I stumbled upon this place after simply driving by," he said of his storefront at 616 Las Vegas Blvd. South. "I took a picture of the building, sent it to the agent and said, 'Find out about this place. I want it.' "

Balikian is not alone. In 2012, nearly 3,500 permanent jobs were created thanks to businesses locating, relocating or expanding into the urban core of Las Vegas, according to a recent report from the city's Economic and Urban Development Department.

BROKERING INTERIOR DESIGN

After five months of searching for a viable storefront, Elaine Odeh, 46, and Emily Westra, 34, business partners from Chicago, settled on a Main Street location for their interior design "matchmaking" business Laidback Lux, which opened in October at 1038 S. Main St.

The business pairs people with interior designers to match their taste and budget .

"We wanted to do something that felt like us, and we knew we could only do that downtown," Odeh said with a laugh. "I'm not sure what that says about us."

The business owners, including Balikian, took no government assistance, did not take advantage of the city's small- business incentive programs and needed no help from the Downtown Project - a $350 million investment by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh in downtown startup businesses, technology, culture and education.

"We wanted to do it ourselves," Westra said. "You don't have to be Zappos to be down here. I hope there will be more people like ourselves."

Their business is just finding its sea legs and its customers, but Odeh and Westra plan to hold out as long as it takes.

"We treat it like an adventure," Odeh said. "In any other city, we'd be homeless right now ... but things are picking up."

Businesses such as the Sweet Spot Candy Shop and Laidback Lux are banking on Las Vegas residents flooding back to downtown, once the commercial hub of the city. In August, Zappos plans to move into its new headquarters, the former Las Vegas City Hall , 400 Stewart Ave., bringing with it about 2,000 employees. Also, the long-vacant high-rise Juhl , 353 E. Bonneville Ave., recently began leasing its 300 units. Old office spaces and weekly motels have been purchased and spruced up, anticipating the demand.

"In the couple of months I've been here, I've found a real community of those seeing ahead, looking at the big picture," Balikian said. "We've all come together downtown to support each other."

For Balikian, the big picture will always be downtown.

"Sometimes I'll look out of the shop window and take it in," he said. "The world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard, that's my address. It's amazing."

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Nolan Lister at nlister@viewnews.com or 702-383-0492.