Sedona Main
Street Program nominates Sedona Outdoors for AZ Main Street 2008 Best
Medium Scale Project. This interior renovation of an existing retail
space was completed as a tenant build-out to accommodate a new store and
integrate a new product line on “Main Street” in 47
Days at a cost of $61 a square foot (1/3 the cost & time for a complete
gut & re-build).
The Athenour-Davis-Arbogast
Family achieved this feat by working as a team on aspects of the
project. They envisioned an outdoor clothing store featuring alternative
products not available locally, including apparel made from alternative
fabrics for functionality and comfort and accessory items with more
technical qualities. You can dress for most any occasion in Sedona, even
if you only shop “Sedona Outdoors”.
They created a
retail experience with a space that embraces and reflects the
merchandise. The store interior is designed to bring the outdoors in
with juniper log posts, a red rock wall, a water feature, and the colors
and sounds of nature that envelope you. The architectural lighting,
color and clean lines complement the alternative and high-tech
inventory. And the functionality of their display fixtures, counters and
cabinetry exquisitely mirror the functionality of their product lines.
The family worked
elbow to elbow with the contractors and laborers in demolition and
hauling. They helped frame walls and install woodwork. They even did
the entire interior painting themselves – all this while managing five
existing stores. Their hand-on efforts and their wonderful friendships
with the trade professionals involved made this dramatic transformation
possible at the amazing cost of approximately $92,000 (cost of $61 a
square foot -1516 square foot store).
Customer
response, including both visitors and residents, has been excellent on
all counts. According to the owners, “they love the store and they love
the products”. The family also finds joy in giving local residents
another reason to shop in Uptown by providing functional and creative
items and gifts.
In the past few
months, the store has increased its product line and potential market
share by adding apparel with built-in sun protection (spf clothing) and
hydration systems with free refills of filtered water. They’re also
providing free entertainment outside the store on a regular basis to add
customer appeal and vitality to “Main Street”.
Sedona Outdoors
has exceeded the owner’s expectations. Though a new store with a new
product mix, it has proven itself with a positive bottom line even in
this challenging economic time. They projected a 15% increase for
January through July of this year over last; they achieved a 23%
increase!
Sedona Outdoors
has generated vitality, employment, capital reinvestment and sales tax
revenues in addition to enhancing aesthetics of our Main Street. It
amazes us how well this family works together and plays together in the
Sedona Outdoors. For all these reasons we nominate Sedona Outdoors for
the 2008 AZ Main Street Best Medium Scale Project.
Photo (pdf)
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