Massage Envy Spa coming to NewMarket Square

WICHITA — Amy Gilliland is bringing a business to NewMarket Square that she hopes will be the envy of the area.

She’s opening Massage Envy Spa, a national franchise, in the same building near 21st and Maize where Doc Green’s is.

The 2,680-square-foot store will open in late July.

“I like NewMarket Square because . . . it’s a power center,” Gilliland says.

She says there’s not a lot of competition in the area either.

Gilliland already has a Massage Envy in Lawrence, which she opened a couple of years ago.

“We’ve done really well in Lawrence,” she says.

She’ll hire a staff to run the Wichita spa.

“I could not have done that two years ago when I opened the current one, just because it was a new concept for me,”  Gilliland says.

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April Reed is a dealmaker so far in 2010

WICHITA — At a time when most commercial brokers would be happy to be making any deals, April Reed of Slawson Cos. is making multiple deals.

“My phone is ringing off the hook,” she says.

So far in the new year, Reed has closed deals for White Dress, Alter Ego Fashions, Complete Nutrition and Picture Perfect to open at NewMarket Square; for Wichita Pilates Group and Zeni to open at the Shops at Tallgrass; and Sport Clips Haircuts to open at Tallgrass Centre.

She has at least one more deal coming this week and possibly a second as well.

“I think there’s a little bit of pent-up demand,” Reed says.

She says the market is more positive now than it has been.

Also, she says, “This time of year is traditionally busy for retail leasing.”

Reed says part of it is being “willing to make some deals, too.”

She adds, though, “We’re not doing any deals that don’t pencil out for us.”

Alter Ego Fashions to open at NewMarket Square by June

WICHITA — The White Dress isn’t the only new shop for women opening at NewMarket Square.

Heidi Pullman and her sister Laura Carpenter will open Alter Ego Fashions by June.

The store will be next to Justice Just For Girls and near Bed Bath & Beyond.

“It’s just kind of a women’s shopping area,” Pullman says.

Carpenter recently moved from South Dakota, where she’s worked in a boutique the last three years.

“She kind of learned the ropes there,” Pullman says.

The two have since been doing in-home fashion shows with various product lines.

“People really like the product,” Pullman says.

Alter Ego will sell women’s apparel, shoes, jewelry and accessories.

“Really, just to get more exposure, we thought a location would be better,” Pullman says.

She says NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize was easily her choice.

“It’s just kind of the place to shop on the west side.”

April Reed of Slawson Cos. handled the deal for the almost 2,000-square-foot space.

Pullman’s husband, Dustin, owns two Beds For Less and has been offering retail advice.

“He’s just kind of guiding us on how to start a business,” Heidi Pullman says.

She’s already thinking of future stores.

“We’d like to expand,” Pullman says. “So we’re going to start here . . . and then grow.”