Lululemon Athletica, one of the hottest retail stores opening across the country in recent years, has finally landed in the Triangle.
The chain, which sells top-line athletic apparel and yoga clothing, has become a cult favorite among yoga students and fans of active wear. It has more than 100 locations in the U.S., Canada and Australia.
The company got its start in 1998, when founder Chip Wilson opened a design studio that doubled as a yoga studio at night. To help pay the rent, Wilson began selling yoga clothing made of non-cotton materials.
The clothing took off and Lululemon opened its first retail shop in 2000 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
On Thursday, the company opened its first local spot, at 401 N. West St. in Raleigh. It's a showroom, a smaller, cozier version of the company's full-scale retail store.
The showrooms are open for only part of the week, which is intentional, according to the company's website, "so that we can be out in the community meeting our neighbors and participating in local yoga and fitness classes."
The Raleigh location is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
There are already showrooms in Charlotte and Wilmington, and one is scheduled to open in Asheville on July 30. Company officials didn't return calls about future Tar Heel expansion.
In Raleigh's Five Points area, there are two interesting bits of news.
First, the former Bickett Gallery has converted into a new business called the Bickett Market.
Billing itself as a "local farm-to-table warehouse," the market sells produce and seafood and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
It is at 219 Bickett Blvd. Check out the website ( www.bickettmarket.com).
Second, longstanding Five Points tenant NOFO has added a special Carolina Collection featuring the work of clothing and accessory designers from throughout the Tar Heel state. NOFO is at 2014 Fairview Road.
Other items: In Durham's Northgate mall, Personality Portraits will open next to Kay Jewelers on July 24 and Eyebrow Designer 21 will open in August across from Victoria's Secret. ... In Raleigh a new furniture store called Contemporary Concepts is open at 7010 Glenwood Ave. ... In Smithfield at the Carolina Premium Outlets, the Talbot's Outlet is now open. ... In Cary's Stone Creek Village at Davis Drive and High House Road, Verizon Wireless and a Michigan company called Brilliant Sky Toys & Books will open later this year. ... In Chapel Hill, Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe will open Saturday at The Courtyard, 431 W. Franklin St. ... In Raleigh's Cameron Village, ladies fashion store Fedora Boutique is opening its fourth Triangle location at 419 Daniels St. ... And also in Raleigh, repair shop 2M Autoworks is open off Spring Forest Road at 5824 McHines Place, specializing in Toyota, Honda and other Asian vehicles.
