Redesigned Toy Center set for owner’s 1st holiday season

Heading into the holiday shopping season, retailers are beginning their sprucing-up rituals.

While some merchants put up lights, Christmas trees and menorahs by rote, others are going through it for the first time. And though Mary Mollen is one of those novices, preparing for the post-Thanksgiving rush will be easier after the three-month redesign of her store, The Toy Center.

"It's really popping in here right now," she said.

Mollen bought the Patterson Avenue store in August from Jim Johnson. The Toy Center has been in the same spot since 1966.

Despite the store's longtime presence in the city, Mollen said she wanted to bring a new vibrancy to The Toy Center. She has spent the past several months restocking, tweaking inventory and brightening the store's look. She held an open house Saturday.

The new color scheme includes yellow, blue, lime green, orange and raspberry. The outside has been painted; she's now working on the interior.

She also upgraded the lighting.

"I want this store to be a bright, fun-filled place where people can come in and feel comfortable," she said.

Mollen also has increased display areas to give shoppers -- the children -- better access to toys.

"I'm a very hands-on person, and I love children, so I want to have a lot of interaction," Mollen said.

The changes aren't strictly cosmetic. The Toy Center is now carrying several new lines, including eco-friendly and wooden toys.

Mollen also increased the store's selection of books, which are important to her -- before buying the store, she was the bookstore manager at St. Christopher's School. So far, Mollen said, book sales have shown promise.

"People don't yet come looking for books," she said. "But they're surprised by our selection, and our books have been jumping out of here quickly."

After the holiday season, she expects to launch story times and other in-store activities.

Mollen said she wants The Toy Center to be the kind of store "where play, imagination and creativity all come together."

She is keeping some of The Toy Center's standbys, including trains and collectibles.

ZIPS expanding

Officials for ZIPS Dry Cleaners are scouting for Richmond locations and talking to potential franchisees.

The Maryland-based company plans to open at least five shops in the Richmond area in the next year.

Andy Cucchiara, vice president of franchise operations for ZIPS, said the chain has identified three potential spots in the area and is negotiating leases. The three could be in operation as early as next spring, he said.

Cucchiara would not disclose where the properties are, but he said the company looks to put shops in heavily populated areas.

ZIPS specializes in same-day service. Customers who drop off cleaning by 9 a.m. can pick it up by 5 p.m. There is a flat charge of $1.99 per garment.

Because of the quick turnaround, Cucchiara said, ZIPS does all its work on site. The average location is about 3,500 square feet.

ZIPS started in 2006. It has 19 locations in Northern Virginia, Washington and Maryland.

"Richmond is a natural fit for us," Cucchiara said.

CinéBistro targets fall

The owners of Stony Point Fashion Park hope a new dining and movie complex will open as early as next fall.

Nico Schultz, development manager for Michigan-based Taubman Centers Inc., said the mall is getting the approvals needed to begin work.

CinéBistro, which combines fine dining and movies, will be 30,000 square feet. It is set to go in the former Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro restaurant and several adjacent storefronts.

Schultz said Stony Point signed the theater company because it was looking for "something that could make the mall stronger."

Taubman's Dolphin Mall in Miami already has a CinBistro.

Ukrop's on iPhone

Ukrop's shoppers can now get discounts, recipes and circulars on their iPhones.

The grocer, which is part of the Grocery Shopping Network, is one of the retailers featured on UCook.com. The UCook app has an interactive recipes database, digital weekly specials and a "savings center," which allows shoppers to create shopping lists and print coupons. It also directs customers to the nearest Ukrop's store.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or . Follow him at http://twitter.com/RTDBizBuzz.