May 28, 2007

La Encantada would like more; While larger stores are doing well, smaller ones seek added trafficBy Christie SmytheAZStarNet.com

Signs at the store say “down to nothing,” and inside, customers paw through a dwindling selection of clearance-priced designer clothes.

Parachute, a clothing boutique that opened more than three years ago in La Encantada, is saying goodbye to the high-end shopping center.

Co-owner Marc Lucas, who also owns boutiques in Scottsdale, said Parachute will likely close once the inventory has sold out.

Parachute is the second of two stores Lucas opened in La Encantada that failed to attract a strong enough customer base. His other store, Sherre’s, closed last year.

Lucas said his store’s lack of name-brand recognition and uneven foot traffic at the high-end center hurt Parachute’s sales.

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