Pier Park announces new specialty stores

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- Simon Property Group Inc., officially announced the addition of more shopping options at Pier Park.

The 900,000-square-foot retail and entertainment lifestyle center located on 93 acres covers land from Front Beach Road (at the City Pier) to U.S 98 (Back Beach Road). Pier Park is already home to nearly 100 retail stores and to six anchor stores.

New specialty shops scheduled to debut this summer include: Aqua Gallery, Ava Blue Boutique, Baja Grill, Carter's Clothing, Cost Cutters, Déjà vu, Great American Cookies \ PretzelMaker, Nails So Happy, Paint'n Place, Runway Collection, Shimmering Seas Jewelry and Gifts, The Eye Gallery, Pac Sun and Paradise Found.

Aqua Gallery offers an eclectic mix of gifts based on works of art. The store will carry prints, books, carpets, electronics and more.

Ava Blue Boutique is a locally owned upscale boutique featuring women's designer apparel, shoes, accessories and jewelry that appeals to the modern women. Lines featured will include Free People, Color Me Red, Sugar Lips, Mystree, Spanx, Dahiny and B122 among others. The boutique will also offer monogramming services for flip-flops, t-shirts and jewelry.

Baja Grill's concept revolves around fresh, contemporary and consistently outstanding Southwestern, Cajun, Caribbean and American cuisines - a unique combination along with outstanding service, fine wines and tempting desserts all served in a stylish, high-energy Tropical design atmosphere.

Carter's Clothing offers clothing for children from newborn through size seven including baby sleepwear, play-clothes and accessories. Carter's has around 200 stores in the United States.

Cost Cutters is dedicated to providing customers with convenient hair care services, by professional stylists who care about customer needs. Cost Cutters offers a relaxed hair care experience with no appointments and no hassles. Cost Cutters offers a range of styles at a price easy-to-afford.

Great American Cookies/ PretzelMaker became an instant retail phenomenon in 1977 when the first store opened in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded on the strength of a generations-old family chocolate chip cookie recipe, Great American Cookies expanded in malls across the country and at the same time developed a complete line of cookies and brownies, including a signature Cookie Cake product, making it one of the best cookie companies in the industry.

Déjà vu offers the trendiest, quality merchandise with affordable specialty store prices, combined with one-of-a-kind customer service.

Nails So Happy is a beauty services establishment that offers nail care services such as manicures, pedicures and nail enhancements.

Paint'n Place is a full service paint-your-own pottery studio. Paint'n Place provides a comfortable social atmosphere where guests can come together as family, friends and neighbors, to let the creative juices flow! Guests are invited to paint plates, mugs, vases, figurines and more. Paint'n Place also offers jewelry-making classes and proudly hosts child and adult birthdays parties, bridal showers, church and civic groups, company meetings, Girls' and Boys' Scouts, etc. All products are food, microwave and dishwasher safe.

Runway Collection is a men's and women's fashion boutique which offers high-end designer options in a range of prices.

Shimmering Seas Jewelry and Gifts offers jewelry and gifts, specializing in exotic jewelry creations. Shoppers can find a variety of elegant sterling, gold, pearls, diamonds and much more.

The Eye Gallery is well known around the Florida Panhandle for the latest in sunglasses and prescription eyewear. Its distinctive collection of eyewear ranges from preserving the timeless, inspiring the creative and emphasizing the beautiful.

PacSun offers the latest in surf and skate-inspired apparel, accessories and footwear for teens and young adults.

Paradise Found, an upscale beach wear and resort wear shop where shoppers will find a wide selection of bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, boogie boards and souvenirs. This is the first Paradise Found store in Northwest Florida.

Pier Park's diverse and unique roster of anchors, specialty retail stores and restaurants has shown much success thus far, according to the news release.

"We are thrilled to be a part of Pier Park and have seen an incredible response both from the community and from summer visitors," said Kelley Horton, owner of Bellies & Babies. Bellies & Babies is Panama City Beach's newest maternity and baby boutique offering fashionable and modern maternity clothing and accessories for the mom-to-be who still wants to look trendy and hip even though she's pregnant. It also offers stylish and unique baby clothing, accessories and gifts.

"As one of the first retailers at Pier Park, we have found our opening at the center to be incredibly successful and overall a wonderful experience," said Betty Ezzel, owner of BeBo'z. BeBo'z offers gifts from Christmas-at-the-Beach, Webkinz and many other beach toys and gifts for less than $25.

Rebecca Ellerson, owner of Peace Frogs, couldn't have agreed more. "Pier Park is the perfect retail environment. Not only is the number of visitors to our store incredible but they are all having a great time at Pier Park. Customers are in a great mood when they enter the store; we have customers laughing, singing, and even dancing in our store all day long and we love it," said Ellerson. Peace Frogs is an eco-friendly brand of clothing and accessories. It features t-shirts printed on organic cottons and carries several lines of jewelry, handbags and other accessories that are made of recycled, sustainable materials or fair trade made.

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