If you remember our first issue, we shared with you one of our dear friend’s new bridal registry.  They’ve since doubled in size and are having their grand re-opening party. If you’ve never stopped by their cute boutique, you really should go on Feb. 25th. Keep reading and you’ll see why we love them.

Fleur De Lys Celebrates the Opening of Newly Expanded Store
and Raises Funds for Human Options

February 18, 2010, Costa Mesa, CA – Fleur De Lys unveils its newly renovated and expanded store on Thursday, February, 25 with a daylong celebration from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Ten percent of the day’s sales will be donated to Human Options, the Orange County non-profit that has been helping battered women and their families to safety for the past 29 years.

Fleur De Lys, the home & gift boutique which opened in 2004, has more than doubled the size of its 17^th street location. The expanded store features kitchen and bath showrooms by Studio Zing Designs, a full-service bridal registry suite, gourmet tasting bar, original work by local artisans, and more than 2,500 square feet of home decor, candles, apothecary, jewelry, stationery, table-top, gourmet, and culinary gadgets.

Fleur De Lys co-owner Josephine Pfeiffer says, “It’s always been an important part of our mission to give back to our community. There are so many people right here in our own neighborhood who need help, and Human Options reaches so many through its various educational and outreach programs.” The group’s multi-faceted approach to service ensures that women have every resource available to them to start a new life. In addition to the 10 percent donation Fleur De Lys is making, Plums Café is partnering in the fundraising effort by donating 10 percent of its dinner sales from the evening to Human Options.

The all-day event will feature a tasting station hosted by Plums Café & Catering, door prizes, free gifts, and appearances by metal artist Cindy Linn, Christa Hozie, creator of the Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookie, chocolate artisan Diana Phillips, and jewelry artisans Grant and Mindy Searcey. There will be a champagne reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The concept for the new space began as way to create a community hub where neighbors can find everything from a quick gift to stylish household necessities. Fleur De Lys owners, Pfeiffer and Shannon Ritter, also plan to use their boutique as a forum to host community events and meetings. The idea evolved when Pfeiffer and Ritter, met Kathleen Jewell and Catherine Monaghan of Studio Zing Designs. Studio Zing was looking for a new showroom location in Orange County but didn’t like the stale environment of most kitchen showrooms. Pfeiffer and Ritter wanted to add a kitchen to their store as a way to promote their gourmet and culinary items and to showcase their table top lines. “It really just made perfect sense,” explains Ritter, “They needed a place to put their kitchens and we needed a kitchen!”

The expansion took on a life of its own and became a community project. Local trades-people, contractors, manufacturers, and installers all pulled together and pitched in to create a truly innovative retail environment. “We’ve had flooring companies, counter top installers, appliance vendors, and cabinet manufacturers help us by providing showroom samples and the labor to get everything done. It was a real team effort,” says Ritter. “As a result, we’ve created a true community store where you can find all the resources for a home-improvement project under one roof and still get great gifts and home decor. We’ve got everything… including the kitchen sink!”

About Fleur De Lys

Fleur De Lys is located in the heart of the Costa Mesa shopping district at 369 East 17^th Street. The home, lifestyle and gift boutique was opened in 2004 by former Saks Fifth Avenue executives and friends Josephine Pfeiffer and Shannon Ritter. The two friends wanted to create an upscale boutique with a comfortable coffee-house vibe where people could find great gifts and special items for their homes at affordable prices.

Mission Statement

“Our mission is to provide a welcoming environment for all and to serve as a platform of support for local artisans and trades-people. Our goal is to foster a sense of community through the open exchange of ideas, talents, products, and services.”

I hope to see you all there!