Movie stars, international locales, prime setting in the heart of downtown, more movie stars. Why, it's organized more like a marketing plan than a restaurant, anyhow. The restaurant at Sixth and Pike, Payne says, is an easy sell and a natural crowd draw. Downtown core stores and eateries, the ones that cluster like planets around the sun that is Nordstrom's flagship, come equipped with the same glossy appeal. Many share corporate images carefully nurtured in suburban malls or other cities.
Shoppers know what to expect before they even walk in the door.
But First Avenue has Shakir Kaymaz. He spent three years holed up in Westlake Center as owner of Alhambra, an upscale women's clothing boutique. The experience, with its high customer traffic, squeezed space and long hours, just about drove him nuts. New Age music wafts through the air and supernally calm salespeople offer cups of steaming tea to browsers. In his quest for a spiritually fulfilling store, Kaymaz watched profits suffer for four years.