Gadgets and gizmos galore: KitcheNova brings domestic whimsy to Chinatown
Leo Lukidi has gadgets and gizmos aplenty at KitcheNova, 4054 Schiff Drive.
But if you don't see what you want in the independent kitchen store showroom, just ask. Chances are Lukidi has what you're looking for in the 4,000-square-foot warehouse in back.
"Even though it's small, the way we have it set up doesn't seem like it," he said, pointing out that most of the showroom display features one or only a few of each item.
If it sells, Lukidi swiftly restocks it.
"That way, it's not crowded," he said. "People like the concept and feel like there's more of a personal touch. Instead of going to a big store and trying to find a product, they can come to me and talk to me directly."
He started KitcheNova eight years ago with a single booth at an indoor swap meet. His business blossomed with two and then four booths. But with high rents and only three business days a week to operate, Lukidi thought he might be better off as an online-only store.
So he shut down the booths and sold products online from his Spring Valley-area garage. As business grew, he moved operations into a warehouse and office space.
Online retail seller competition and price gouging led big manufacturers to drop online-only distributors that didn't have showrooms. Lukidi noticed a few at a time pull back. Then when Amazon opened for online sales in China, Lukidi realized that, even if it wasn't the main drive of his business, he needed a store.
Rather than invest heavily in a mall or shopping center location, about a year ago, Lukidi carved his showroom space from his existing warehouse.
"With this, it's not really a big investment on my part because I need the warehouse anyway," he said. "I know it's not the best location, but people can find us."
The store -- on a side street in China Town near the Las Vegas Little Theatre, the Mayweather Boxing Club and Pacific Archery Sales -- doesn't draw a lot of drive-by or sidewalk traffic. And it's not the kind of place customers usually find by accident, though that’s how regular customer Don Lane found it.
Lane loves his egg poacher, his ceramic mandolin, his ceramic knife and his spice set. And he loves the way Lukidi drops everything to demonstrate products.
"He's always happy to show me how something works," Lane said. "Even to pop the package open and say, "Here's how it works.' "
Demonstrations are a big part of the business, Lukidi said. Even the store layout, with a big bright red central counter, is designed for demonstrations.
Lukidi launched a Meetup.com group to take demonstrating to the next level. Meetup events draw crowds of 30 or more into the store to chat about their love of cooking.
Lane said he likes to drop by the store to check out unique things and see what's new on the market.
"And I get a discount," he said.
Lukidi said he offers a discount to all Nevada residents.
"What's New in Your Kitchen?" is the slogan at KitcheNova, and Lukidi strives to find the new and unique. Early in his kitchen sales career, he went beyond novice to professional through the culinary training program at the College of Southern Nevada. And he adds to that knowledge by poring over magazines, journals and catalogs. Then he researches and tests every product before he carries it.
Big sellers now are the EVO oil sprayer and anything that helps with berry picking or pitting. Other hot items are pizza scissors, memory foam kitchen mats, a sponge that smells of Georgia peaches, a glass carafe that cold-steeps tea and coffee and the Lotus Grill, a smokeless battery-operated charcoal grill.
For kitchen novelty fans, Lukidi stocks ninja cookie cutters, a penguin ice mold and a whale toothpick holder called Moby Picks.
The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. But Lukidi’s real push is his website, kitchenova.com.
To reach View contributing reporter Ginger Meurer, email gmeurer@viewnews.com. Find her on Twitter: @gingermmm.
