Fast fashion and Amazon Prime are dominating the shopping world, but that doesn’t mean that the era of brick-and-mortar is over – at least, not in Scottsdale. The Merchantile, an indoor boutique marketplace currently under construction, plans to host a mish-mash of local businesses under one roof. Slated to sell jewelry, clothes and home decor, the “co-retailing experience” is meant to support local vendors by alleviating the stress of pricey overhead costs.
These woes are nothing new to The Merchantile co-owner Kimberly Pak, who started as a small business owner in Los Angeles. For Pak, finding a place to set up shop without the notoriety of Neiman Marcus or Gucci was a challenge. Opportunities to set up pop-up shops don’t happen every day, and it wasn’t easy to promote her business without a proper space. This may not be an issue in the future. This project, spearheaded by Kimberly and her husband, Eugene Pak, could become a boutique to rival the might of corporate retail in Scottsdale.
There should be something for everyone in this space, as the marketplace also plans to be a venue available to brands and organizations hosting events. If Instagram-worthy scenes, DIY projects and air-conditioning appeals to you, it might be time to skip the Fashion Square trip to support your local mom-and-pop shops. Mark your calendars; the Merchantile’s grand opening is scheduled for this October.
