Baby Cottage new arrival at Spokane Valley Mall
Grandmas and godmothers have a new place to pamper their pint-sized bundles of joy.
Baby Cottage recently opened at Spokane Valley Mall, offering specialty wares for any baby gift-giving event.
Special occasion clothes include tiny shirts and ties, tutus for flower girls and even coming home outfits. Sizes range from super-small for premature babies up to 4T.
The store carries Robeez, a brand of baby shoes engineered to stay on wiggly little feet, and trendy diaper bags made by Petunia Pickle Bottom and Bumble Bags.
Giftware includes super-soft baby blankets, tiara-clad piggy banks and porcelain sets that transform hair locks and baby teeth into keepsakes.
Store owner Anna Smith said she didn’t have widespread support when sharing her business idea with friends and family.
The 24-year-old, who is a neonatal intensive care nurse at Deaconess Medical Center, heard more cautionary tales than a college-bound teenager.
Nonetheless, she secured financing, ordered inventory and, in April, dived head first into the baby supply business.
“People told me it’s not going to work,” Smith said. “It’s going really well and I’m so happy I did it.”
In the first two months, Smith hired three part-time employees and decreased her hospital shifts to focus on managing the store.
She’s fine-tuning her retail approach to suit the bulk of her customers – gift seekers.
In the next two weeks, she’ll add Baby Bjorn infant carriers and christening gowns to the mix.
“I think the store is heading in the direction of a gift store rather than an apparel store.”
Baby Cottage is on the second floor of the Spokane Valley Mall, near Sears. For more information, call 921-5551.
Store has flair
Utopia Home Accents recently opened in the mall with an eclectic array of artistic glassware and unique gifts and home décor.
Store owner Jacqueline Gibson, who also owns Silver Safari in the mall, said many of the shop’s pieces are made by local artists and reflect her personal interests and tastes.
“It was more of a creative outlet for me. I came to the point where I needed a creative outlet,” Gibson said.
Home accessories range from classic to bold and include paintings, metal sculptures, raku pottery, fused glass plates and hand-blown calla lily vases, which come in several sizes and start at $7.95.
“We’ve just had some really good support and feedback from everyone,” Gibson said.
The shop also carries wine accessories, high-end silk flowers and plants and clocks and wall décor.
Utopia Home Accents offers free gift wrapping. It is on the second floor of Spokane Valley Mall, near Macy’s.
For more information, call 893-8787.
Panda Express coming to Valley
Panda Express is expected to open its new Valley restaurant in the next few days.
The restaurant, 15603 E. Broadway Ave., is one of three local Panda Express eateries.
Liz Miller, a public relations specialist representing the company, said the restaurant seats 76 people and is being leased through Dunn Spokane, LLC.
Panda Express serves quick Chinese foods, including favorites like kung pao chicken and Mandarin chicken.
The chain is owned by Panda Restaurant Group, which is based in Rosemead, Calif., and owns more than 700 restaurants in the United States, Puerto Rico and Japan.