Downtown students headed west on Roosevelt Street may have noticed the extensive renovations to a building on the corner of Third Avenue. The building, which has seen major upgrades to its exterior, including paint, landscaping and a parking lot, will soon be home to three new businesses scheduled to open Dec. 1.
Sooo U! Fine Clothing and Accessories, Phoenix Natural Medicine and Detox Center and Royal Exchange Furniture will become part of the burgeoning downtown Phoenix retail experience.
“The neighborhood has been more welcoming than anything,” said Sylvia Shoen, owner of Sooo U! and Royal Exchange.
Sooo U! is a women’s clothing store that specializes in secondhand designer and name brand clothing with everything from The Gap to Versace.
“We are bringing Saks at a ‘real person’ price for everyone,” Shoen said. “It is all designer clothing, high end and reasonably priced.”
Prices on items range from $10 shoes to $130 jackets.
“We’re trying to keep it real here. We want all the fashionistas and divas to be able to keep some money after they shop,” Shoen said.
“Everything is consigned,” employee Maria Moralles said. That also includes the eclectic furniture store also owned by Shoen, set to open at the same time.
Sandwiched between the two retail stores is Phoenix Natural Medicine, a natural medicine and detox center that boasts a juice bar, natural pharmacy, infrared sauna, acupuncturist, masseuse and a biofeedback center that can give users information on a range of health issues from causes of personal stress to allergies. Shoen’s sister Gayle Palms owns Phoenix Natural Medicine.
“It’s all part of the healing arts,” said Palms.
They’ve done extensive renovations to the entire building, partly to persuade its current transient residents to move elsewhere. Situated on the southwest corner of Roosevelt Street and Third Avenue, the building was built in 1943 as a neighborhood grocery before being renovated and turned into a charter school in 1985.
Shoen is a graduate of ASU’s law school and former vice president of U.S. West, acquired by Qwest Communications in 2000, and won Business Woman of the Year from the state of Colorado. Palm is a certified colonic therapist instructor with 28 years of experience as a holistic practitioner.
“I really want to be in business. I’m here to stay and be a part of the community,” Shoen said.
Contact the reporter at rwnoel@asu.edu
