New Echo Park Boutique Makes the Grade
The Kids Are Alright, a new boutique specializing in Los Angeles designers, opened May 31 at 2201 Sunset Blvd. in the Echo Park section of Los Angeles. The 850- square-foot store takes its name from the 1979 documentary about the rock band The Who. The store’s deacute;cor charmingly exploits the scholastic theme—with school desks, blackboards and lockers—and gets an “A” in the process.
The store is owned by Vanessa Alvino and Rod and Maritca Arrua. The trio was drawn to Echo Park for “the vibe and all the up-and-coming places,” said Alvino. The store is directly across from Luxe de Ville, Sirens & Sailors and Funky Revolution.
The Kids Are Alright primarily offers women’s fashions, but it may add more men’s clothing in the future. The focus is on wearable fashion by established, independent local designers, including Citizens of Humanity, CNC California, Corey Lynn Calter and Edward An.
“They’re very wearable clothes,” Maritca Arrua said. “It’s wearable fashion—not so wacky that you can’t wear it during the day.”
The store owners were pleased with the response the boutique received in its first 10 days, which was fueled entirely by drive-by shoppers who noticed the new store. A grand-opening party is scheduled for June 20.
Alvino and Maritca Arrua have worked in retail together for 10 years.
“After helping other people run their business, we figured, ’We could do this,’” Arrua said. —Christian M. Chensvold
