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Business & Tech

Six New Business Openings

Half a dozen new places to shop, rent a bike or kayak and get your teeth fixed in Napa.

Despite the economic downturn, business owners still see Napa as a city of opportunity. Here are half a dozen recent openings.

Lark Shoes opened in July in in north Napa. Managing the store is Tina Saxsenmeier, daughter of Maggie and Hrair Kupelian.

The Kupelians also have two stores in Marin County, where Hrair Kupelian got into the shoe business in Larkspur Landing about 25 years ago.

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“We decided to open in Bel Aire Plaza because there is no other shoe store there. So we decided to give it a try, said Maggie  Kupelian.

“The reception has been good. There have been a lot of curious people stopping in,” she added.

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Uggs and Ecco are popular brands with shoppers, she said.

Lark Shoes is open Monday through Saturday  from 10 a.m to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 1from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information: www.larkshoes.com or (707) 252-7280.

Napa Valley Buy and Sell is the latest addition to downtown's resale scene. Owner Bill Kolovani -- husband of Napa Valley College president Edna Baehre-Kolovani -- offers collectibles, antiques and more at 1227 First St.: (707) 259-1355.

West End Napa is a home accessories, furnishings and staging store on the ground floor of the on First Street. Opened in July, it is operated by Elizabeth O’Rielly and Kathleen Pfaff.

“Business is going amazingly well. There is steady foot traffic of locals and visitors staying in the (Avia) hotel,” O’Rielly said.

Items at the store include many one-of-a-kind furnishings. “We have home and gift items for all price ranges,” O’Rielly said. “We also offer residential and commercial design services.”

West End Napa is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information: (707) 254-9500.

Domus Designers owner Leeann Agee, at 1370 Trancas St. Ste. 743, also offers home design, staging, home and room staging and designer services.

Agee specializes in helping empty-nesters with downsizing, de-cluttering and reorganizing. Domus Designers also assists with lighting, colors and paint. (800) 833-7606 or www.domusdesigners.com.

is for those who enjoy the outdoors. Located on Freeway Drive by Andie’s Café, Getaway rents kayaks, bicycles and will plan a hiking tour, according to manager Randy Johnson.

Previously, the outdoor store was in Calistoga; it moved to Napa about one year ago. There is also a location in Santa Rosa.

Most of the customers are tourists, but locals also bring visiting friends: “Tourists are our bread and butter,” said Johnson.

Western Dental and Orthodontics has opened its doors at the northeast corner of Trancas Avenue and Jefferson Street. The building was originally a bank and now is manned by two dentists.

Services include offer a range of family dental care from orthodontics to periodontics and cosmetic dentistry.

Western Dental has more than 280 offices in California, Arizona and Nevada. It has about 4,400 employees, according to its Website. Corporate headquarters are in Orange in Southern California.

Appointments: 1-888-879-3290.

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