Storefront Stories

Behind Every Storefront, there’s a story.

Think about the local shops and restaurants you’ve missed most – the places and people that have become part of your daily life. Like the barista who knows you by name. The restaurant where you celebrate every family birthday. The boutique owner who always has time to chat and gives your dog treats. These businesses are what make The Royal Poinciana Plaza feel like home, and the sense of connection they bring feels more valuable than ever.

Now, as they reopen their doors, we’re highlighting our Bradley Fair family through a new series, #storefrontstories. Through photos and five-minute interviews, we’re showcasing and celebrating the people behind the businesses you love, who have persevered through uncertain times and continue to make Bradley Fair so special.

Watch the stories unfold below and on Instagram and get excited to return to your favorites. Want to see a certain business featured? Let us know!

APRICOT LANE

Ali Raymond, Owner

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: What I love most about our work is getting to help our customers feel confident in the clothes they buy. I love seeing moms and daughters out spending time together and enjoying girls’ day! But I love all the dining and shopping that Bradley fair has to offer.

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: One positive thing that came out of the shutdown was being able to spend the extra time with our kids. We spent so much time outdoors and found some really neat spots in Kansas to go hiking!

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: We’re so excited to finally be open! It has been so great to meet our customers who have come in and shopped. We’re working hard to plan our grand re-opening event!

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: One interesting thing about us is that my husband, Chad, and I own AAMCO and Apricot Lane in Wichita! It’s so fun being able to work together and support each other being entrepreneurs. Our kids also get to help out with the stores! They were a big help in getting everything set up for Apricot Lane.

NOUVEAU

Cindy Hershberger, Manager
Staff of Nouveau

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: We love seeing our clients every day and welcoming new people into our store. Our staff at Nouveau is like family and it’s so much fun working with all of the wonderful and talented ladies.

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: Although it was a great time to reconnect with family at home, we appreciate now more than ever how important our Nouveau family is and appreciate the fact that we are able to work in this environment. We also realize how we thrive on daily interaction with clients and co-workers.

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: Having fun with fashion again and sharing it with the ladies of Wichita!

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: Nouveau has been a Wichita shopping destination for over 40 years and going strong!  We are extremely thankful to our clients for their support over the years!

THE LBD, ETC.

Barbara Mann, Owner
Staff of The LBD, etc.

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: The beautiful setting and relaxed atmosphere.

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: Hum, that’s a hard one, because I love the LBD team. However, I was able to get inventory done.

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: Seeing friends and catching up.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: We will be celebrating 10 years in August!

HEALING WATERS

Amanda Gorecki, Owner

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: I am passionate about empowering Self Care, and I believe self care is a necessity, not a luxury. Having our Med Spa Bradley in a great location at Bradley Fair allows our clients to easily find us if they are new to Wichita or they are shopping at another loved store, like Trader Joe’s. Our space is uniquely designed to be a destination center right in the Wichita community. Our clients have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful views of the Bradley Fair Lake. Any scheduled client can stay as long as they want and enjoy rest and relaxation.

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: The shutdown gave us an opportunity to improve our processes and work on systems behind the scenes to enhance our client experience. We took the time to repaint and refresh our space to help brighten the aesthetic. Healing Waters is even more beautiful and relaxing, and we can’t wait to share it with our clients!

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: I believe hardships can bring gratitude for the little things, and I think the shutdown helped us all be more grateful for the opportunity to serve Wichita and one another. We are just so grateful for the opportunity to work and serve one another and our guests. Each day that we get to come to Healing Waters is a gift!

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: We are extremely passionate about empowering self-care to each guest who comes through our door. If a client leaves us feeling just a little bit better about themselves, we have met our mission!

LYNDON’S

Julie Lair, Owner
Camille Ogden, Manager

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: Well first of all we just both love fashion and feel so lucky we get to come to work every day and bring that love to the Wichita community.  We also love the atmosphere Bradly Fair brings.  Bradley Fair understands that we are all in this together.   They understand the small independent stores, like Lyndon’s, don’t have the corporate backing that some of the bigger chains possess and work with us to help our business grow and succeed.  We feel just as valued.  That is important to Camille and I and we appreciate it tremendously.

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: I think the biggest thing we have seen is the overwhelming support and love we got from our clients. We had so many people buy gift cards to use later, take advantage of our delivery service, and just call and check in with us to see how it was going.  It was truly overwhelming.

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: I think just having everyone back together at Lyndon’s is the most exciting thing!!  We are such a small staff that we are really more like family and during the shutdown it was so odd not know everyone was up to.    We of course can’t wait to get to go back to New York to buy new merchandise although that won’t be for a while.  We have talked with all of our reps and just getting back to a normal schedule for buying and receiving merchandise will be nice.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: That through all of this we are more dedicated to find sharper price points on merchandise so we can reach a more diverse clientele.  We understand that times are different, and people want a good value for their dollar.  We will never lower our quality standard but have done our research on finding vendors that can offer both quality and value.  I don’t think that Lyndon’s has always been thought of in that light.  We are definitely trying to change that perception.  So, stop in and see Camille, Holli, and myself anytime!!!

SVETA’S SKIN & BODY THERAPY

Sveta Yakubovich, Owner
Masha Yakubovich, Daughter of Sveta

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: I love being a part of the best shopping center in Wichita. I love that I have been here for so long and was able to watch the shopping center grow with Sveta’s as a part of it.

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: I played Pickle-ball almost every day with my 17 year old daughter and my son moved back to Wichita with his wife and they are expecting their first baby.

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: I am most excited to finally see my clients and employees, who have become my close friends. I have missed them a lot during this time.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: This year will be our 20th anniversary of being in business and at being in Bradley Fair.

HOMEGROWN

Brian Donnelly, Director of Operations
Ryan Entz, Brand Creative Director

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: Bradley Fair has high standards with the care of the property and support of tenants.  We have enjoyed a great relationship with the center and with our guests.  Our General Manager, Robert Malicoat, says, “I love the opportunity to get the day started in a meaningful and positive atmosphere. The location and grounds of BF create the genuine comfort and relaxing mental and physical environment that easy to soak in.”  Starting off every morning in a positive direction is easy to do when you are in beautiful surroundings. Having the opportunity to share some kindness first thing in the morning with our guests is what we love to do!  If we can do something kind for someone and set them up in a positive mindset to approach their day, hopefully, we have made our community better!

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A:  A better understanding of how our community can come together and look adversity in the eye, to exceed all expectations.  We strengthened bonds with our team members who continued with us during the shutdown.  They were brave, hard-working, adaptable to the changes that were made almost daily, and maintained positive attitudes above all!  Our team was the real highlight of the shutdown.  We are so blessed to have the good people we have!  Our guests have been very understanding and extra generous in taking care of our people throughout the shutdown.  Sorry!  That is more than just one positive thing! LOL

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: To be successful in the hospitality industry, you need a genuine love of serving people.  Seeing our friends return and welcoming them back home has brought smiles to our faces and warmed our hearts.  We love having the opportunity to provide a comforting experience for our guests.  It is a blessing to see how happy they are to be out and about.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: We have always wanted HomeGrown to be more than a restaurant.  We want it to be a place where both employees and guests come to be replenished in spirit, cared for intentionally and nourished for the day.  It is also important to us to give other small businesses an opportunity to grow along with us, so we have chosen to select some local vendors for food, retail and art.  Having their presence in our restaurant gives us community pride and our guests love that we are supporting local small businesses.  We understand that the simple act of coming together around a table brings down walls, makes connections, creates memories, and builds relationships.  Everything we do at HomeGrown is to create the space to care for others and to share kindness that will be passed along within our community.

LOVE OF CHARACTER

Mary Billings, Owner
Staff of Love of Character

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: We love helping people spread joy by doing things like sending fun balloons to someone for their birthday or picking out a cute gift to send them just because. Being a part of Bradley Fair, we are able to reach more customers and love getting to know our shop neighbors. Our pop-up space is large, and we have been able to expand our product offerings.

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: Making everyday celebrations and birthdays special became an important part of life during the quarantine and we pivoted quickly to help make that possible. We setup our online platform for balloon ordering and delivered lots! We are now seeing an increase in smaller balloon bundles being sent for birthdays and to friends when they need some cheer. We also came up with some easy gifting ideas. Seeing the extra mile people went to make things extra special for people has been heartwarming. Plus, we have a lot more crafts and art supplies which customers are loving!

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: Interacting with our customers and helping them in person is something we love doing! It’s doable and fine to discuss over messages, but not as fun. We are also hoping that we can start hosting fun events soon, just need to figure out the logistics to make sure they are safe for everyone involved.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: I started Love of Character out of our home office, then took over our guest room; fast forward a few years and now we have 2 shop locations! Putting together my friend’s bachelorette party and sharing the gift boxes I made for it on Pinterest is what gave me a kick start. I worked a corporate job and would come home and make bachelorette party boxes all evening. Things have definitely evolved and I’m very lucky to have an incredible team that helps make it all happen.

THE FRAME SHOP

Phillip and Sydney Frangenberg, Owners
Staff of The Frame Shop

Q: What do you love most about your work and being part of Bradley Fair?

A: Helping our customers bring their artwork to life in a beautiful and well-maintained setting!

Q: What’s one positive thing that came from the shut down?

A: We are thrilled our loyal customers, as well as new, are returning.

Q: What are you most excited about now that you’re back?

A: To help our current and new customers with their picture framing needs.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A: This August the Frame Shop will celebrate 45 years in business!