Barbecue, beer offered to patrons at kickoff celebration
Urban Outfitters’ new location in the Vista celebrated their grand opening Saturday with DJ sets, a food truck, and free beer for those who were over 21.
The trendy Philadelphia-based clothing chain officially opened July 18, but held the party two days later at the Gervais Street location, a 10,000 square foot, 83-year-old brick building. The store employs 45 people, including a few USC students.
“It was really high energy and a cool environment,” third-year art student Elisabeth Donato, a sales associate, said. “We actually ran out of food because there were so many people coming in.”
This store is Urban Outfitters’ second South Carolina location and is expected to be successful once USC’s 30,000 students, most of whom are in the store’s target demographic, return to campus.
“Once everyone comes back to school it will really take off,” Donato said. “It’s a really close location and there’s something for everybody, from little accessories to clothes.”
Even with the lack of student customers, Donato believes the store has made a lot of progress.
“I was part of the opening,” she said. “It is has come far along already. They turned this empty building into the store it is now with all the wall art and everything else in less than two weeks.”
The store took advantage of the building’s exposed brick interior to create a vintage, somewhat hipster feel. Racks of breezy maxi-dresses and floral print tops line the walls and a small selection of indie records and record players stands next to the dressing rooms, the doors of which have been reclaimed or splattered with paint.
While usually in malls, this standalone location is sure to draw customers, Donato said.
“One thing I noticed about the company in general is that it always has an outside entrance if it’s part of a mall,” Donato said. “I think that really attracts people. Everyone is also local and they know the town and the events.”