Wayzata Village Shoppes

2012-02-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

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What doesn't happen at the Village Shoppes on Black Friday!

2011-11-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Black Friday took a turn for the worse this year as shoppers in stores around the country resorted to fighting, shooting and even pepper-spraying their way to the most coveted deals.
The violence began even before Thanksgiving was technically over. Moments after a Walmart in Los Angeles opened its doors at 10 p.m., one woman reportedly used pepper spray on at least 20 customers – some of whom were children – to keep them away from the discounted electronics she planned to buy.
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Black Friday took a turn for the worse this year as shoppers in stores around the country resorted to fighting, shooting and even pepper-spraying their way to the most coveted deals.
The violence began even before Thanksgiving was technically over. Moments after a Walmart in Los Angeles opened its doors at 10 p.m., one woman reportedly used pepper spray on at least 20 customers – some of whom were children – to keep them away from the discounted electronics she planned to buy.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between people. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers/balloon bouquets, offering confectionery (candy especially Godiva), purchasing gifts (jewelry) and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").

Be Sure to visit Card Party at Wayzata Village Shoppes for cards, gifts and/or balloons for this special day.

Take a peak at Card Party's Valentine Shop.

IOCP Food Drive a Success

2011-01-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

The Wayzata Village Shoppes merchants ran their first annual food drive to benefit IOCP over the 2010 holiday season. Pictured here are Merchants Ginny Domain from Latham Optical, Pam Hasselbring of Pilates MN, Wayzata Lion Dewey Senneseth who will deliver the food, and Katie Lucas from Card Party.

Shop local this holiday season

2010-12-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

Tired of all the hustle and bustle at the mall? Maybe it’s time to try Wayzata Village Shoppes for your holiday shopping and dining.

You’ll enjoy a welcoming, peaceful atmosphere and an assortment of fun, unique shops with one-of-a-kind gift items.

Village Meats & Deli

2010-12-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

Hosting a holiday gathering? No need to worry about the food, because Village Meats & Deli offers professional catering services and appetizer trays for the Wayzata area. As well-known caterers in the Twin Cities, Village Meats & Deli specializes in company events, weddings, graduation parties, barbecues, and
more.

“Christmas is our busiest time of year,” owner Jim Wessling said. The shop’s fine smoked and cured meats, like
old-fashioned wieners and spiced turkey sticks, make excellent presents, and gift certificates in any amount are also available.

For a memorable holiday dinner, try some mouthwatering short ribs, fresh-from-the-farm chicken, marbley ribeye, or boneless butterflied pork chops. There are also several other tempting choices, making it difficult to try just one.

Village Meats & Deli isn’t just for special occasions, however. The shop also offers affordable, high quality box lunches for everyday enjoyment. Whether it’s a chicken salad wrap with potato salad and a brownie, or roast beef and cheddar with a garden salad and lemon bar, lunch time will always be a flavorful event.

To learn more about Village Meats & Deli, go to www.villagemeatsmn.com or call (952) 473-4466.

Belaluma

2010-12-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

For those who long for delicious grilling experiences year-round, Belaluma is the answer. The company is dedicated to maximizing outdoor living through full-outdoor kitchen design, manufacturing shelters, grilling supplies, and more.

“People here love to entertain outdoors,” owner and founder Craig Hetzenberg said, adding that Belaluma was born out of his own desire for a more enjoyable year-round outdoor grilling experience.

“I wanted something for my own home,” Craig explained. As a result, he created Belaluma, which is ommitted to enhancing every aspect of outdoor living. Belaluma offers grills, utensils, cookbooks, aprons, sauces, and other accessories in a wide variety of brands, styles, and prices.

The company is also focused on the design and manufacturing of custom outdoor rooms, so that grilling can be enjoyed all year long. The structures are made to withstand Minnesota’s harshest elements, such as extreme temperature changes, storms, and hail. “The grill shelters are designed to go on a deck or patio,”
Craig said. With infrared heat, light fi xtures, and a stereo, Belaluma’s durable enclosures provide comfort and protection from wind, rain, sun, and insects.

Craig, who has more 30 years of experience in the design industry, will also offer cooking classes and grilling demonstrations next spring.

To learn more about Belaluma, go to www.belaluma.com or call (952) 285-2731.

Maggie’s Restaurant

2010-12-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

Treat friends and family to a relaxing outing at Maggie’s Restaurant. “All the customers know our names,” said Scott Homan, whose father, Nick, started the restaurant 31 years ago. “Wayzata’s not a small town like it was when we first started, but we still have that small town feel. We’re still in the same location, and we’re still thriving.”

Scott took over the restaurant after his father retired, but Nick still comes in about four times a week to eat, visit, and check how things are going. Maggie’s Restaurant is “deep rooted” in
the Homan family, and was named after Scott’s grandmother, Margaret. “Her picture is on the wall and everything,” Scott said. “She was a great woman.”

Scott began working at Maggie’s at age 15, and hasn’t looked back since. “I’ve always liked it,” he said. “It runs in the blood, I think.”

At Maggie’s, employees and customers often become close friends. “I talk to my customers while I cook,” Scott said. “It’s a really different experience. My manager goes fishing with the customers he’s made friends with. We’ve all known each other a really long time.” The first customer to enter each morning is a 97-year-old “local legend.” Scott said he always looks forward to chatting with him over coffee and breakfast.

In addition to friends, Maggie’s is also the place where Scott met his wife, Jessica. “There have been dozens of people who’ve met and married people from here,” Scott said. Maggie’s started out as a pizza restaurant, and gradually added a full breakfast and dinner menu, as well. One online reviewer described Maggie’s this way: “A wonderful small-town restaurant in a big city! Personal touches everywhere. Excellent home-cooked meals. Huge portions! EXCELLENT PIZZA! If you want a great meal at an affordable place – Maggie’s should be your choice.”

Jannie Bean Designs

2010-12-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

Say “I love you” to that special wife, mother, sister, or friend with a stunning jewelry gift from Jannie Bean Designs. Jannie Bean Designs specializes in creating personalized, unique solutions to specific customer requests. From stunning engagement rings and special birthday presents to a keepsake for a new mother or the perfect complement to a cocktail dress, Jannie Bean Designs strives to exceed expectations while being sensitive to customers’ desired price ranges. “We’re a custom-order shop, so we’re always making new pieces that fit individual personalities and styles,” owner Jan Bean said.

Jannie Bean Designs also specializes in creating eye-catching, glamorous buckles for handbags and belts. These one-of-a-kind pieces are named and numbered to guarantee their limited edition status. Jan utilizes an extensive range of precious and semi-precious metals and stones in her work, including gold, platinum, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topaz, peridot, pearls, opal, and more.

“I work with many different gemstones,” she said. Jan’s passion for designing and creating fine jewelry began when she started working for a custom jeweler while attending the University of Minnesota School of Fine Arts. After 20 years, she bought the business from her former boss. Jan’s clients span the US, and she is well known for her quality workmanship, exquisite design ideas, bubbly personality, and commitment to excellence. To learn more about Jannie Bean Designs, call (952) 473-5343 or visit www.janniebean.com.

Wayzata Village Shoppes Holiday Food Drive to Benefit IOCP

2010-11-12T07:23:00.000-08:00

Help make the Holidays a joyous time for a local family! Support your local food shelf, IOCP (Wayzata) by purchasing and donating the following items:

Canned nuts, crackers or other non perishable appetizers
Bag/Box of Stuffing Mix, 15 oz can Vegetables
17 oz can Sweet Potatoes
Gravy or gravy packet (no glass jars)
16 oz can Cranberries
Boxed Potatoes
Aluminum Turkey pan
16 oz. can Creamed Soup
Cake Mix & Frosting
Box of Muffin or Roll Mix

An entire Holiday Food bag, which would cost approximately $20.00, would make a big difference for a needy family. Food items should be dropped off between Monday, November 1st and Friday, December 31 at participating Village Shoppes merchants. Monetary donations can be turned in to each participating store. Financial donation to IOCP Memo: Thanksgiving food.

Participating Merchants:

Belaluma
Card Party
Extrados
Hendrickson Salon
Hirshfield’s
Innovative Flooring Design
Latham Optical
Lulu & Luigi
Maggie’s Family Restaurant
Pilates MN
Rags from Riches
Twisted Décor

Wayzata.com has a marketing relationship with Wayzata Village Shoppes.

Keyboard Kids

2010-10-14T03:25:00.000-07:00

Mary Hoffer is confident that piano students at Keyboard Kids learn faster and have more fun than children who take traditional private lessons.

And with the results she’s had so far, it’s hard to deny the truth in her statement. Keyboard Kids is a fresh approach to piano lessons that combines an innovative group approach with state-of-the-art computer software and electronic pianos. Hoffer, a professional piano instructor, invented the concept in 1998.

“We usually average about 200 students a year,” Hoffer said. “There’s no more than four in a group, and we group them according to age and experience.”

The group atmosphere offers several distinct advantages. “Kids like to be together,” Hoffer explained. “We just have more fun.” When children enjoy coming to their lessons, they are less likely to quit.

“Each student has a piano, and a computer,” Hoffer said. The last 10 minutes of each 45-minute session is typically spent doing ear-training exercises and music theory games with special software. “It reinforces what we’re teaching them,”

Hoffer said. “If I can teach music theory in a way that’s fun and in a game format, I’m going to do that.”

Another benefit of group lessons is that the students learn to play on tempo, as they practice with their friends. “You have a little healthy competition, which gets them to practice more,”

Hoffer said. Teaching piano with this method is a “relatively unknown concept,” according to Hoffer. “We have 14 pianos here,” she said. “Most teachers don’t have the equipment to do this.”

Fitness Together

2010-10-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

Why do people train at Fitness Together in Wayzata? “Many people just want more energy; they want more out of life,” owner Deron Lindquist said. Fitness Together is a personal training studio with clients of nearly every age range and athletic ability.

“Every program is a little bit different,” Lindquist said. The first step is a fitness assessment, which takes several factors into account, including posture, hereditary issues, and tension spots. Each one-hour session is tailored to the specific fitness goals of the client. Lindquist said he truly enjoys helping people’s quality of life improve. One of his clients is in his late 70s, and personal training has increased his range of motion and lessened his daily pain.

“He said he can get in and out of his car better now,” Lindquist said. Teenagers have also benefited from personal training sessions at Fitness Together. “We’ve had an increase in kids lately,” Lindquist said. “Some are looking for sports performance, and some do it to build self esteem. What’s nice is the private atmosphere. You don’t have to worry about having the latest clothes or looking perfect.” Fitness Together doesn’t have any long-term contracts or monthly fees. According to Lindquist, fall is a great time to start personal training sessions, especially for those who need extra help with weight loss.

“If a person wants to lose weight by the end of the year, now is the time to start,” he said.

HomeMade Pizza Company

2010-10-14T03:14:00.000-07:00

From crunchy gala apples to hickory-smoked bacon, HomeMade Pizza Company puts a tasty twist on traditional pizzas. “The quality of the ingredients is a lot higher than other places,” Wayzata manager Chelsea Lancour said. “We buy locally whenever we can.” HomeMade Pizza Company offers 45 all natural ingredients. Customers can choose from an assortment of delicious combinations, or mix and match to create their own.

“One of the fun parts of the job is helping customers find flavor combinations that fi t them,” Lancour said. The BBQ chicken and pineapple pizza is one of Lancour’s personal favorites. “It’s the sweetness and tanginess,” she said. “It sounds kind of funny, but it goes really well together.”

One item on the new autumn menu is called “Fall Classic.” It includes all-natural, nitrate-free pepperoni with earthy mushrooms, roasted garlic, and the spirited edge of fresh-cut oregano.

“We come up with fantastic combinations,” Lancour said. In addition to pizza, HomeMade Pizza Company offers creative salad combinations and desserts. To learn more, go to www.homemadepizza.com.

Hendrickson Salon

2010-10-14T03:11:00.000-07:00

Dan Hendrickson has always had an eye for color. “I got started with hair as a student on scholarship for art,” he said. Soon after, he discovered that hair design was something that he had an affinity for, and decided to open his own studio. “I just changed my medium,” Hendrickson
said.

Hendrickson Salon has been in business for 17 years in Wayzata, and has been in the Wayzata Village Shoppes location for two years. Hendrickson is part of Chris Ruever’s A-Team on FM 107, providing hair advice on-air regularly. He only employs talented and experienced hairdressers who are dedicated to making every client look and feel beautiful.

“We really fit it for every single person,” Hendrickson said. Every staff member is a color specialist. “Color is a strong, strong focus here,” he said.

The salon provides top-quality cuts, perms, conditioning treatments, nail services, facial and body treatments, formal hair styling, and much more. “Beauty from top to bottom,” Hendrickson explained. Customers at Hendrickson Salon have come to expect the best in terms of up-to-date style and professionalism in a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. “We’re the ones who fix other people’s mistakes,” Hendrickson said.

Hirshfield’s Manager Mike Perry has 35 years experience

2010-10-14T03:08:00.000-07:00

Mike Perry, manager of Hirshfield’s in Wayzata, has seen trends come and go in the home-decorating industry.

“I’ve been in the paint business for 35 years,” Perry said. Many of those years have been at Hirshfield’s, one of the largest paint suppliers in the Midwest.

“It’s a family-owned business, and it’s a great place to be,” he said. “We’re a full décor store. We carry window treatments, wallpaper, and accessories. The Wayzata store has all the needs for a contractor as well as the consumer.”

Since the early 1970s, Perry has enjoyed helping customers discover the right type of finishes for their walls. “I had some good leadership from my bosses early on, and they suggested making it a full-time career,” Perry said.

Paint has undergone significant improvements the past 50 years, according to Perry. “In the 1960s, there were limited color ranges and limited products,” he said. “The water-based paint wasn’t up to speed as far as durability and washability. As time went on, things got better.”

In recent years, there has been an increased focus on environmentally sound paint products. “The next generation will most likely see products that will outdo these,” Perry said.

Popular paint colors have also changed throughout the years. “Brown is one that’s coming back from the 1970s,” Perry said. Typically, each manufacturer will select trendy colors at the beginning of the year.

“Certain off-whites are coming back,” Perry said. “The off-colored, warm grays also seem to be a color trend coming to light.” The first color-matching computers were introduced in the 1980s. “That kind of pushed color-matching into a whole new field,” Perry said, adding that the technology has gotten less expensive, and more accurate in recent years.

Many homeowners select hues that best accentuate their home type. Newer style houses have been moving toward neon colors, such as lime green and flashing oranges, Perry said. Traditional homes are often painted with mid-range colors.

“Color combinations have a lot to do with what other accessories you have in the house,” Perry said.

Time to Shop!

2010-07-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Don’t forget to check out the other fantastic stores located at Wayzata Village Shoppes, including:

Anna’s Alterations by Anna Theinhan Nguyen

Fitness Together by Deron Lindquist

Hirshfield’s by Mike Perry

Hendrickson’s Salon by Dan Hendrickson

HomeMade Pizza Company by Robin Jones

Jade Fountain by Shilina Cheng

Jannie Bean Designs by Jan Bean

Keyboard Kids by Mary Hoffer

Maggie’s Restaurant by Nicholas Homan

Belaluma by Craig Hetzenberg

Village Meats and Deli by Jim Wessling

New owner at Lulu & Luigi

2010-07-07T00:56:00.000-07:00

Laura Bednarczyk has a law degree, but pets are her true passion. She became the owner of Lulu & Luigi May 1, 2010, after working at the shop for the past three years.

“Some people would have considered me overqualified, but I love my dog and wanted to spend more time with him.” Laura’s dog, Choco (also called “Chucky”) is a Havanese breed.

“Choco is kind of a fixture now,” she said. “Our establishments are pet-friendly. Everyone is allowed to bring their dogs.”

Laura, who lives in St. Louis Park, plans to split her time between the stores in St. Louis Park and Wayzata.

Her husband, Paul, works for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “He’s a finance guy,” Laura said. “He’s going to play a critical role in helping me know how much I can spend.”

Laura, a Texas native, said that it has been wonderful to have Paul’s family nearby for support.

Her own family background contributed to her desire to own a pet store, however. Laura’s father owned restaurants, and she inherited his entrepreneurial spirit.

According to Laura, running a business is fun, but it’s also a lot of work. “It looks easy, but it’s not,” she said. The previous owners had been Karen L. Howe and her daughter, Liz Sand.

“I think it was just a great transition for them,” Laura said. “I share the same vision for the store, and they felt comfortable leaving it in my hands.” Liz is now employed at the store as the marketing
director, and the other staff members also stayed on board.

“We’re a small shop and we’re close to our customers,” Laura said.

Lulu & Luigi offers trend-setting items, premium quality foods, and unique, high-end gifts and accessories. The shop’s claim to fame, however, is its award-winning grooming services.

Unmentionables Lingerie Boutique

2010-07-07T00:51:00.000-07:00

For gorgeous lingerie, many women shop at Unmentionables, which is owned by Leah Simon-Clarke.

A few of the upscale boutique’s newest lines include Eberjay, Cosabella, and LeMystere.

Lori Brookes provides personal bra fittings and consultations, in order to give women lingerie that is perfectly suited for their needs.

“We’re a unique boutique that also offers handmade vintage jewelry you can’t find anywhere else,” manager Amy Watkins said.

Unmentionables is a division of Extrados, a nationally-recognized spa that specializes in professional eyebrow shaping.

Come to Extrados to try the new Sunless Skin-Perfect Tan, an organic customized spray tan that gives a natural looking sunkissed glow without the harmful sun rays.

Extrados & Unmentionables offer an unforgettable spa and shopping experience.

Pilates MN teaches pilates

2010-07-07T00:48:00.000-07:00

Pamela Hasselbring and her husband, Brent, opened Pilates MN in April 2008. Pamela, along with Martha, Renee, Sonia, Julie, and Shawn, teach all levels of pilates classes.

Brent takes care of the accounting and payroll, but he admits that he’s also started to like participating in pilates classes, as well.

“I grew up playing sports, but I actually like pilates,” he said. “I’d definitely recommend it.”

About 10 percent of the class participants are men, Brent said. Pilates MN has all ages, as well.

“We have people who are 15, all the way to 80,” Brent said. Pamela and Brent have two children, Alex, 14, and Raegan, 11. Boys from Alex’s soccer team often come to the pilates teen class, Brent said.

The vast majority of clients at Pilates MN came in with no previous pilates experience.

“It’s not as difficult as it’s perceived to be,” Brent said. “It’s just a casual atmosphere, and we offer programs for beginners.”

Karen’s Salon of Wayzata

2010-07-07T00:43:00.000-07:00

“I always wanted to have a salon,” said Karen Schmidt, who’s owned Karen’s Salon of Wayzata for the past 15 years.

She became a hairdresser about 40 years ago, and still loves her job.

“My biggest assets are the girls in the salon with me,” Karen said. “I look forward to coming to work every day because I know they’re going to be here.”

Nancy and Tanya are the nail technicians, Kari is a color specialist, and Ruth is a barber/stylist.

Karen said her sister, who also went into hairdressing, impacted her own career choice.

“We always did each other’s hair growing up, and that’s how it started,” she said.

Latham Optical, where customer service is number one

2010-07-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

Ginny Domain has owned Latham Optical for the past seven years, and it’s the “fulfillment of a long-time dream.”

Latham Optical has been in existence for 25 years, and it’s always been a woman-owned business. Ginny attributes the store’s success to its dedication to people.

“Customer service is number one,” she said. “If you’re not talking to the owner, you’re talking to someone who knows just as much.”

Gail is one of Latham Optical’s dedicated employees. “She’s a good, wonderful employee,” Ginny said. The eye doctor, Dale Nelson, is also popular. “He’s been in Wayzata for at least 25 years, and has a very
faithful following.”

In addition to the friendly staff, Latham Optical also has a wide selection of eyeglasses and sunglasses (both prescription and nonprescription).

“The inventory is constantly changing,” Ginny said. “I get new frames in every two to three weeks.”

Card Party has fun things for Summer

2010-07-06T01:17:00.000-07:00

For Katie and Peter Lucas, work is always a party. They’ve owned Card Party for almost five years, and enjoy helping people find the right supplies for graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, and more.

“We were looking to own our own business, and this seemed like a really good fit,” Katie said.

Card Party offers balloons, wrapping paper, stationery, and unique cards and gifts. The store gets merchandise in for every season.

“We have a lot of fun things for summer,” Katie said. One of their popular new Tshirts, for example, has “Official S’more Tester” written on it.

“It’s fun to be in a party store,” Katie said. “I enjoy interacting with the customers.”

Soon, a sampling of Card Party’s items will also be available for purchase online, at www.shopcardparty.com.

856 Lake Street East
Wayzata, MN 55391
(952) 473-5647

Rags from Riches has an eye for fashion

2010-07-06T01:10:00.000-07:00

Camille Gagnon of Rags from Riches has always had an eye for fashion, but she hadn’t always planned on owning her own fine consignment store.

“I was shopping with my sister-inlaw, and she took me to Wayzata,” Gagnon said.

They went to a fine consignment store called Rags from Riches, and Gagnon was impressed. She picked out a unique trench coat, and when she went up to make the purchase, the owner asked if she’d be interested in buying the store.

“Here I am deciding if I can afford this trench coat, and she’s asking me to buy the store,” Gagnon laughed. The more she thought about it, however, the more it made sense.

“I’ve been in retail my entire life,” Gagnon said. Her mother owned a knitting store, and she was familiar with how to run a business. Now, five years later, Gagnon loves every minute. “I fell in love with the Wayzata area,” she said.

At Rags from Riches, Gagnon offers couture women’s clothing items from all over the country, often with designer labels. “That way, we get a different slice, not just clothing from the Twin Cities,” she said. “If I’m traveling to another state, I’ll stop people if I like their style. I’ll try to get them to send me boxes of their clothing.”

The store also sells high-end jewelry, handbags, and shoes. During the summer, Rags from Riches has a ladies’ night every third Thursday.

For more information, visit www.shopragsfromriches.com.

848 East Lake Street
Wayzata, MN 55391
952-473-1435

Card Party: Don't forget these important holidays this Spring!

2010-03-19T02:17:00.000-07:00

Passover: March 29th (at sunset)
Easter: April 4th
Administrative Assistant's: Week of April 19th
Mother's Day: May 9th

Please stop by or call if you have any questions or are looking for ideas to make this a special holiday season.

Featured Merchandise

Easter: Easter is coming on April 4th...Send your cards, set your table and fill your baskets at Card Party. We have everything for your Easter baskets including cards, little trinkets, Gel Gems to decorate your windows and mirrors, candy and much more. We're excited for Spring!

ThemeNaps: Just in at Card Party-ThemeNaps! They are a napkin that stands up so it's part of your decor. Dress up your table this spring with this unique product! Good news-these napkins are printed in the USA and are made out of 100% recycled tissue paper.

Cell Phone Accessories:

Cell phone cup holder - This handy gadget will organize your small items in the car. It fits most standard cup holders. It holds your pens, notepads, coins, and even connects your cell phone charge through the base.

Cell phone portable charging - This portable charging station protects your phone and eliminates tangled charging cords!

Bridge - Did you know that we sell bridge tallies, score pads and cards? Stop by to see our selection.

Welcome to Wayzata Village Shoppes!

2010-03-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

Shop our block to experience the most variety in Wayzata retail and dining! We offer unique restaurants, eclectic shopping and a wide range of services to fit your family's busy lifestyle!