New Eagle Street Shop Hopes to Be A Destination
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| The owners of Dragonflii Clothing Co. on Eagle Street hope to open within the week. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Tim Lanfair moves fast.
Lanfair and girlfriend Jessica Gwozdz purchased the vacant shop space at 48 Eagle St. less than two weeks ago and hope to open a clothing and skateboard shop there as soon as this Wednesday.
"We’re almost done cleaning and I need to build a dressing room. Now, it’s just getting the product in," said Lanfair on Wednesday.
Dragonflii Clothing Co. will offer men’s and women’s clothing, along with a selection of skateboards and long boards. Lanfair said the shop will feature "a variety of things" but will be 80 percent women’s clothes, 10 percent men’s and 10 percent boards.
"Guys are easy - T-shirt and jeans," said Lanfair, 37. "It’s the girls that are tough. But, we’ll have the basics - jeans, tops. It’s not going to be your typical skate shop."
Originally from Redondo Beach, Calif., Lanfair knows a little about fashion: he worked as an operations manager and in visual merchandise for Polo clothing stores for four years during college.
"I have a couple of ideas. I do see the market and I think I’m going to be a destination," he said.
Along with an assortment of California-inspired clothing geared for teens and the 20- to 30-year old bracket, Dragonflii (which is named for the dragonflies Lanfair often saw on the beach as a child) will also offer Krown skateboards, starting at complete decks for $49.99 and long boards at $99.99.
What will really make the store unique, though, is Lanfair’s personal touch.
"A couple of months down the line, I’d like to start designing my own clothes," he said. "I want to introduce a whole new clothing line that’ll attract people because of curiosity."
Without any prior design experience, Lanfair is hoping local artists will help him get started.
"What I want to produce here is something that works with local businesses; I’m big on local community. I’m thinking I can have contests in collaboration with local artists. Something like 'Design a Dragonflii T-shirt and see it in the store.'"
Lanfair migrated to the Berkshires after receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting and financing from Southern Vermont College in Bennington. He previously worked at Gideon’s Restaurant and at Gala Restaurant and Bar at the Orchards Hotel in Williamstown before deciding to open his own business. The idea for Dragonflii came from a desire to get involved and be a part of the revitalization of Eagle Street.
"Jessica and I go for walks every night and we always go by this way. I’ve been hemming and hawing for six months that I should do something and I just recently decided to jump in with both feet," said Lanfair.
"The edge of the street is really coming up; this could be the gateway to Eagle Street," he added. "North Adams could be a Northampton."
While other businesses have struggled at the Eagle Street location, Lanfair thinks his shop will succeed because of his previous experience in business.
"If you show a nice product, merchandize it easily and make it easy to shop, it will be successful," he said.
Dragonflii Clothing Co. is expected to be open daily, except Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Thursdays, the hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Though the city’s Planning Board does not meet until next month, Lanfair said the shop can begin operations as long as no one contests its opening.
Jen Thomas can be reached at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, Ext. 23.
