Westonwear Opens Pop-Up Retail Store
When Vietnamese restaurant The Slanted Door moved out of San Francisco’s increasingly fashionable Mission District, Julienne Weston mourned the loss of one of her favorite eateries but saw a chance to open a temporary store for her Westonwear company, known for translating dance fashions into streetwear.
The Westonwear store debuted in the 600-square-foot space, located at 584 Valencia St., on Nov. 20. But the store does not have much time to make an impact; building owner and restaurateur Charles Pham will move a cafeacute; in the space in March 2005.
During the space’s retail interlude, Weston will sell her label’s inventory and 2005 bohemian-inspired clothes alongside the jewelry of Dona Taylor, her collaborator in the store, and items from other San Francisco brands, including Marion McKee.
The temporary space features a forest-inspired deacute;cor. Taylor drew leaves around the restaurant’s light fixtures with pastel chalk and painted the walls a shade of rose. Branches and crystals hang from the ceiling. The restaurant’s wine rack is used as a cubbyhole for purses and other tchotchkes.
Weston said she will look for a permanent store space when her time expires on Valencia Street but will not open additional stores for her wholesale company, which earned $6 million in 2004. —Andrew Asch
