Spokane, Wash.—River Park Square announced today it has signed a lease with Miaz (Mee-ahs) Boutique, a locally-owned women’s and children’s clothing and linens boutique that will open in the downtown shopping, dining and retail center next month.  

Miaz will feature a wide selection of April Cornell women and children’s clothing and linens, as well as unique children’s clothing and accessories.  April Cornell is a national brand of lifestyle clothing and linens that features a variety of colors and floral patterns.  Miaz will occupy a 2,500-square-foot space on the first level of River Park Square across from the customer service desk and will employ four full-time and several part-time employees.  

“Everyone from the college graduate, to the casual mom with her kids, to the grandmother will enjoy the unique items available at Miaz,” said Meghan Brown, owner of Miaz Boutique.  “Whether you’re shopping for a fun family outing, an evening dinner party, or for new table or bed linens we’ll offer a shopping experience that you can’t find anywhere else in Spokane.” 

In an effort to create a shopping atmosphere conducive for customers, Miaz has modeled the store to feel like home, complete with shutters on the exterior, an inviting décor on the interior and a children’s play area with toys and a chalkboard.  

Miaz is the seventh retailer to open in Phase II of River Park Square. Total leased space for the retail center is now at 88.7 percent.   

“Miaz complements our existing mix of tenants and expands the impressive mix of unique merchants we’ve assembled,” said Shaani Claypool, executive vice-president of Robideaux & Company and leasing director for River Park Square.   “River Park Square is doing really well and customers from throughout the region have responded very favorably to this new shopping experience.” 
 
According to Claypool, gross retail sales at River Park Square for the year 2000 posted a 30 percent increase over 1999, yielding a banner year for the downtown retail, entertainment and shopping center.   

The Cornell Trading Company, which operates April Cornell, began in 1969 and is one of the fastest growing retail operations in the United States and Canada.  The April Cornell line is known for its use of coordinating colors, florals and patterns.       

Slated to open next week is the recently announced Atrium Café’s on 3, River Park Square’s food collection.  The Atrium Cafes on 3, a two-level, 29,000 square foot specialty food venue, will provide patrons a unique dining experience, incorporating one-of-a-kind food offerings, a special children’s seating area, meeting rooms, custom art features, and a spectacular view of downtown Spokane and the center’s atrium.  It’s first tenant, Panda Express, opens April 8, 2001.  

River Park Square and surrounding downtown businesses serve a regional market of more than 1.7 million people.  The new retail center has generated more than $5.4 million in tax and fee revenues for the City of Spokane and services located in the City, has created and retained more than 1100 jobs, and has served as a catalyst for downtown revitalization.  Since River Park Square opened, more than $250 million in new downtown construction projects have been announced or moved forward.