Our Place
Changes are coming to downtown Lake Geneva.
Fancy Fair Mall has been sold and could be renamed, as the new owner, rebrands the shopping center to his own plan and image. The new owner, Kirk Booher, will be giving the mall a makeover and making changes to the exterior and interior, as well. He will be replacing the roof, heating and air conditioning systems, and the exterior facade. He is hoping these changes will attract new kinds of businesses to the mall and help promote the current stores, along with using social media to draw people in. He hopes to eventually add a pizzeria, bakery, and florist along with curbside pick-up and call-in delivery service.
Kirk Booher would also like to allow “pop-ups” to encourage new businesses to sell and promote their products for a certain amount of time. The owners of Queen Bee, which is located inside Fancy Fair Mall, are also looking to sell their business, as long as the new owner promises to keep the store as it currently is. The previous owners of the mall, Robert and Sandra Skibitzki, who own Galerie Matisse and Matisse Too, are getting ready to close their shops shortly after the holiday season, and are hoping everything sells by December 27th. The couple is retiring, after 45 years of serving downtown Lake Geneva. Along with the changes coming to Fancy Fair Mall, some other businesses downtown have also decided now is the right time to close, including Leather Accents and Fleming’s Limited. They did not make the decision because of the pandemic, or so they claim, but because they are ready to retire after working in their stores for decades. Neither store owner indicated that they were closing to spend more time with their families, but retail does eat family time alive.
Who made the cut?
The new Riviera shops are confirmed. The music finally stopped, and the vendors raced for the few chairs available. The winning, ‘seat-holder’ vendors
The Riviera project uncovers the old Geneva Lake Excursion Corp. ticket booth, back when there was more than boat line on the lake.
will include The Riviera Beach Shop, Sterling Works, Cheese Box, Going Bananas, KC’s Sweets and Sweet 16 Ice Cream, Nina’s Popcorn & Funnel Cakes, and one space to be determined. The one empty space won’t be empty for long, as a couple of inquiries have already been made. Riviera first floor lease agreements are done and approved along with the rental rates. As the renovation work and demolition continues, many nostalgic items from the past are appearing. The Geneva Lake Excursion Corporation office sign and boat line ticket booth are great pieces of the past that have been uncovered. These, along with other great things, are sure to be uncovered and preserved as the job progresses.
What’s the apparent best news about this selection result? The children’s tattoo parlor and crystal shop are not going to be coming back. Gone will be the partially naked women on taped up posters. Gone will be all incidence of children’s anything, except for getting candy, food, and having fun in a really great safe place. The other good news is that Sterling Works will apparently be returning, although Bill Briggs thought for a while that he might close the second location. That great place, run by Bill with such quality, has been a bright star for all the time it has been located at the Riviera (the second location’s on Broad Street, not from two other terrific stores named Tres Belle Boutique and Haberdapper.
Place of the Week
Allison Wonderland a magical toy store downtown Lake Geneva. Stop in and shop for toys from around the world, and make a child’s dreams come true.
