Reply With Quote
de Inwood?
A new game for Spurs guard Bowen
Web Posted: 08/22/2007 09:45 PM CDT
Melissa S. Monroe
Express-News Business Writer
Bruce Bowen and his wife, Yardley, have a lot to celebrate this year.
Bruce and the San Antonio Spurs snagged another NBA championship in June. That month, the Bowens also added another son to their family.
And, in the next few weeks, they will enter the retail business with the opening of Cielo, a high-fashion clothing boutique. In early November, they will open Yardley's Salon and Spa.
But the Bowens are not just opening two stores. They're the landlords.
They entered the retail business full-throttle by buying land two years ago at Huebner and Bitters roads and watching it go from dirt and rocks to a 30,000-square-foot shopping center complete with tenants. It's called Valencia Village de Inwood.
"This is not like playing basketball. This is a whole new territory for me," Bruce Bowen said while showing off Cielo with its dark-brown stained concrete floors and mahogany shelves.
Bowen said the motivation for the center was to have something to show for his success in basketball and to instill responsibility in his two sons when it comes time to helping out in the business.
For Yardley, growing up in Miami inspired her to pursue her passion of running a boutique reminiscent of her hometown.
She admits the retail center has been a big project for her to juggle along with building a new house and raising two young sons while Bruce had been busy winning his third championship ring.
Her Cuban culture can be seen in their two stores with their Floridian and tropical themes. The outside of the terra cotta-colored building has a Mediterranean and Spanish feel. Cielo is the Spanish word for sky.
The 10,000-square-foot Yardley's Salon and Spa will have all the services of a day spa such as massage rooms and Vichy showers, and hairdressers and nail technicians headed by Yardley's mother, Margarita Barbon, who owned a nail salon in Miami. The boutique's store manager, Cynthia Rosa, is also from Miami and a close friend of Yardley's.
The Bowens say one of their main objectives for the salon is to treat customers right.
"The thing I'm more concerned with is our customer service. It's lost to society," Bruce said, "I'm not concerned if we don't make a lot of money; but if we do the right things, then everything will take care of itself."
Bruce and Yardley, who are both fluent in Spanish, say the language will be spoken in the salon and not hushed like they've seen at other spas.
While this is the first retail venture for the Bowens, they haven't been going at it blindly.
Bruce just finished a weeklong class at Stanford Graduate School of Business with former teammate Malik Rose to learn more about business. The Bowens say they plan to be hands-on with their shops, and Bruce added that he plans to help run the businesses during the offseason.
They also have surrounded themselves with professionals.
Tom Hill, the project manager of the retail center, said he was encouraged by the growth and income levels in that area and knew the Bowens made a good decision in buying the land.
"The demographics on that intersection are higher than the Dominion in terms of higher income and educational level," said Hill of Stonehill Development Services. "About 37 percent of the people in the area have higher than a bachelor's degree."
Mac Turner, president of LRMT Inc., which is handling the leasing, said because of the growth in that area, the Bowens are setting themselves up to have long-term income once the note is paid on that property.
And while other Spurs have invested in the community — like the multimillion-dollar grant to the Carver Academy from former Spurs All-Star David Robinson — the Bowens' real estate endeavor goes a step further, Spurs spokesman Tom James said.
"Often you see athletes who lend their names to a project or provide financing for a project," he said. "What is unique about this venture is that Bruce and Yardley are directly involved in each and every step. In 15 years in this business, I've never seen an athlete so directly involved in a business venture."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...l.2a01b7c.html
de Inwood?
This is their retail center, Valencia Village de Inwood, that is being talked about. I posted this picture 7 months ago and called it the Bruce Bowen Center, as that was what it was listed as at the time.
Inwood is a neighborhood in north central SA.
Who gives a ?
That's not the questionable part.
That'd they even use it?
You. Otherwise you'd have never clicked the link to this thread.
That was an easy question to answer.
I am glad to know that Bruce has invested in a strip mall. What that has to do with Spurs basketball I am not certain.
Why you feel the need to be forum police, is uncertain.
Well if it isn't one of the reasons this forum is held back.
Well if it isnt the forum's number 1 attention .
Held back from what?
de Inwood?
As much as Marbury defends Vick or USA versus whoever. Well, actually more as this is a topic about a current Spur.
I wonder if they have room for a Midas Muffler Shop.
Sincerely,
Mike Mitc
porn and bong shop?
BB will be one rich SOB if this all works out
he could be the second coming of westfield shopping malls...
who knows 10yrs down the track, bowen could buy the spurs...
That'd be 'Bruce's Sex Toys & Crack Shop'.
i wonder if his going to open a bruce "lee" bowen karate training center....this is how you kick ppl in the face, in the nutts, slide your foot....
This has gone way beyond Full Court Pets. I thinks its awesome. I don't see why anyone would get bent about Bruce trying to do something beyond basketball.
Add that to the list of things to checkout when I get back in town. Congrats to the Bowens.
It's just like, it's just like, a mini-mall, a mini-mall!
My guess is that Bruce plays for the Spurs. Good for Bruce and his family and definitely good for San Antonio.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
