Fishing gear and clothier Orvis will migrate two blocks up the Cherry Creek in November.
Orvis leased a two-story retail space at 2770 E. Second Ave. in Cherry Creek, just two blocks away from its current store at 2701 E. First Ave. The shop is the former site of Denver’s Pismo Fine Art Glass gallery, which closed in March after owner Sandy Sardella decided to retire.
“Our lease was up at the current space, and (the new spot) is a prime offering,” Store Manager Jen Lofgren said. “It’ll be more accessible for people on foot, and we’re going to have at least 20 parking spots for our customers.”
Cory Dulberg of Zall Properties worked the deal for Vermont-based Orvis.
At 7,700 square feet, the new facility is a major downsize from Orvis’ current 13,000-square foot home. But the new location offers more access to foot traffic, Lofgren said.
“A lot of people drive by our location here, but they don’t stop because there’s no place to park,” she said. “We’re excited about the walking traffic, and I think it will serve us well.”
The reduced store size won’t affect Orvis’ selection of fishing rods and gear, Lofgren said. But the shop is downsizing its dog department.
“We probably have 50 or so dog beds laid out upstairs at any given time, so they may see that scaled back a little bit,” Lofgren said. “But in terms of fishing rods and clothing, nothing will change.”
Orvis plans to make the moves later this fall, and there is not yet a tenant lined up to fill the First Avenue space, the company said.
While moving displays and inventory will be time-consuming, Lofgren anticipates that the most difficult part of the move will be informing customers of the new address.
“Having talked to some other store managers who have done this, they’ve all said the hardest thing is telling people where you are – even when you advertise that you’re moving and it’s just around the corner,” she said. “We’ve been sending out a lot of emails and spreading through word-of-mouth.”
Lofgren, who has managed the Cherry Creek Orvis store since 2009, has watched the neighborhood’s businesses through ups and downs, including the closing of the Saks Fifth Avenue there in 2011.
“Three years ago it felt like we were at a bit of a standstill,” she said. “That might have been in line with what was going on with the economy. But over the last year and a half, everything’s seemed to explode.”
The Cherry Creek store is one of just two brick-and-mortar Orvis locations in Colorado. The second is at the Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree. The company was founded in Vermont in 1856 and, as of April, operated 51 stores nationwide and more in the U.K.
Fishing gear and clothier Orvis will migrate two blocks up the Cherry Creek in November.
Orvis leased a two-story retail space at 2770 E. Second Ave. in Cherry Creek, just two blocks away from its current store at 2701 E. First Ave. The shop is the former site of Denver’s Pismo Fine Art Glass gallery, which closed in March after owner Sandy Sardella decided to retire.
“Our lease was up at the current space, and (the new spot) is a prime offering,” Store Manager Jen Lofgren said. “It’ll be more accessible for people on foot, and we’re going to have at least 20 parking spots for our customers.”
Cory Dulberg of Zall Properties worked the deal for Vermont-based Orvis.
At 7,700 square feet, the new facility is a major downsize from Orvis’ current 13,000-square foot home. But the new location offers more access to foot traffic, Lofgren said.
“A lot of people drive by our location here, but they don’t stop because there’s no place to park,” she said. “We’re excited about the walking traffic, and I think it will serve us well.”
The reduced store size won’t affect Orvis’ selection of fishing rods and gear, Lofgren said. But the shop is downsizing its dog department.
“We probably have 50 or so dog beds laid out upstairs at any given time, so they may see that scaled back a little bit,” Lofgren said. “But in terms of fishing rods and clothing, nothing will change.”
Orvis plans to make the moves later this fall, and there is not yet a tenant lined up to fill the First Avenue space, the company said.
While moving displays and inventory will be time-consuming, Lofgren anticipates that the most difficult part of the move will be informing customers of the new address.
“Having talked to some other store managers who have done this, they’ve all said the hardest thing is telling people where you are – even when you advertise that you’re moving and it’s just around the corner,” she said. “We’ve been sending out a lot of emails and spreading through word-of-mouth.”
Lofgren, who has managed the Cherry Creek Orvis store since 2009, has watched the neighborhood’s businesses through ups and downs, including the closing of the Saks Fifth Avenue there in 2011.
“Three years ago it felt like we were at a bit of a standstill,” she said. “That might have been in line with what was going on with the economy. But over the last year and a half, everything’s seemed to explode.”
The Cherry Creek store is one of just two brick-and-mortar Orvis locations in Colorado. The second is at the Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree. The company was founded in Vermont in 1856 and, as of April, operated 51 stores nationwide and more in the U.K.
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