West Village stores prosper in new homes

Call it making lemonade out of lemons.

Four tenants in the Village West Shopping Center -- Elegant Bridals, The Antique Market, Georgia-Lina Billiards and Coco's Cabana -- were forced to move out to accommodate a new retail store and training center for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA.

"It was a blessing in disguise. We found this great place ... we're getting more traffic. We were kind of growing out of the old building, and we needed more room. So it's been really good," said Elegant Bridals sales consultant Marcie Ortt.

The relocated store opened at 2701 Washington Road on Oct. 27.

"There's a new section that's going to run behind CVS. We're right there in what they're calling the bridal aisle. They're trying to gear this shopping center toward bridal," Ms. Ortt said.

Merle Norman, a cosmetics retailer, moved in on Tuesday. Simon's Tuxedo should open early next year, and a gift shop is also expected for the strip, she said.

The Antique Market is also experiencing positive results from the move, said owner Steve Fiegenbaum. The store moved to 106 Pleasant Home Road, and reopened Friday. It has been renamed Antique Market, Interiors and Gifts.

"George Snelling, the owner of the property over there, did everything he could to help us move. He had moving trucks that he offered free of charge to all the vendors to get over here," Mr. Fiegenbaum said.

Mr. Snelling and AIK Partners LLC sold the shopping center in October to Goodwill Industries for $5.9 million, according to city records.

Goodwill Industries has submitted plans to the city for a loading dock. The organization plans to open a retail store, donation center, coffee shop and Job Connection office there. A second phase calls for creating a job training campus. The Development Authority of Richmond approved $22.5 million bond financing for the project.

The retail store is expected to open early next year, said Wayne Thornley, vice president of marketing and communication. Other business in the shopping center were not immediately affected.

Georgia-Lina Billiards closed its doors in late July rather than relocating. The owner of Coco's Cabana did not return telephone calls.

For Antique Market, Interiors and Gifts, its new space is slightly smaller at 11,000 square feet, but it's "more comfortable and user friendly," Mr. Fiegenbaum said.

The antique market has 35 vendors, which is more than at the previous location. New additions include interior designers and gift shops, as well as younger vendors, which has been helpful in attracting younger shoppers.

"I think it's a good, fresh start," said vendor Katie Taylor, owner of Bella Dots, a vendor. "We're attracting people because it's a new store, and then the people who used to come to the other one were excited and couldn't wait for us to open."

Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.