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Everybody's Business

International Plaza Toyopia closing

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published March 17, 2006

The International Plaza outpost of Toyopia, a small Gainesville-based toy store chain, is going out of business.

The store will close March 27, founder Alex Reece said Monday. Items are marked down 75 percent.

"It's nearing bankruptcy,'' he said of the chain.

The locations at Tyrone Square Mall, University Mall and in Ocala will remain open, at least temporarily, he said. The store at Countryside Mall will close Monday, followed by the Sarasota store April 3.

Reece blamed the financial problems on the hurricanes of 2004, when Toyopia planned to expand from one store to six between July and October. After the hurricanes hit, construction costs ballooned.

"I think we would have survived ... if not for all the hurricanes,'' he said.

Increased competition hasn't helped, either.

International Plaza store manager Joe Davis said, "People don't shop here any more.''

Cliff Annicelli, editor of Playthings Magazine, a toy industry trade publication, said it's difficult for toy stores to grow as chains, particularly those that rent expensive space in malls.

"The costs are just higher,'' Annicelli said. "And being in a mall used to mean having a captive audience, but now people can get almost all their shopping done at Target or Wal-Mart.''

KB Toys, which once leased the space Toyopia occupies, closed hundreds of stores in 2004 as part of a Chapter 11 restructuring.

LOFTY FURNITURE IDEAS: When's the last time you saw Stickley-style furniture in a modern loft?

We thought so. That's why Jill Lifsey opened District Designs, a furniture and home accessory store in the loft-heavy Channel District.

"When people think of modern or contemporary style, they think of loft living,'' said Lifsey, who opened the store in a ground-level loft of the Meridian Channelside condos, 1212 E Whiting St.

Key elements of her philosophy for loft living include using oversized and versatile furniture and decor, such as chairs that work inside or outside, or a table for dining or cocktails.

Lifsey, who lives across the street in the Victory Lofts, likes to keep her stock fresh. "I don't reorder the same piece. Once it's gone, it's gone.''

Store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

SALONS SPROUTING: One in the Channel District touts urban luxury. Another in Southern Pines wants you to be you.

Luxe Urbain opened in early January in the Victory Lofts after a lengthy delay.

Big city panache no doubt rubbed off on co-owner Anthone La Badie after long hair-coloring stints in Miami and New York City. But Luxe Urbain's polished concrete, stainless steel, exposed ductwork and dark wood tones is nonetheless de rigueur decor for the Channel District.

More than just lofted, the salon occupies two stories, with hair and nail stations upstairs, and facials, spray tanning, a lifestyle boutique and CD listening bar downstairs. La Badie hopes to add a make up artist and hair stylist to his current staff of four.

If that's not new-fangled enough, Luxe Urbain also has shampoo beds, which essentially are reclining cushioned platforms that prevent clients from having to lay their heads backward, straining their necks.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

U.b.U Color Salon and Hair Group opened at 2511 W Swann Ave., next to Minor's Market in the Swann Metro Center, on March 7.

Owners Leonardo Martinez and Penny Magdziak focus on hair styling, coloring, highlighting and perms as well as facial waxing. It's just the two of them now, but they have eight stations in the 1,500-square-foot space and plan to hire more hair stylists.

Martinez has been doing hair locally for five years, Magdziak for 15.

Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com.

[Last modified March 16, 2006, 12:18:06]