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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 15, 2019
Avery Lane owner likes a mix of old and new BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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very Lane owner Sc ottsdale Darlene Richert glides over to a wooden, French-country dining table custom-painted with floral print design and surrounded by rust-colored, leather-strapped chairs. “What I love about this lady is she was 87 years old and she was fearless,” Richert said of the dining set’s former owner. “She goes, ‘I just love these chairs and I love this table and I put them together.’” Of the approximated 30,000 antiquemeets-contemporary tchotchkes, home décor and furniture found within the new 23,000-square-foot consignment store, it’s this dining table set that encapsulates both Avery Lane as a business and Richert’s personality. “I like this mix of old world and new world,” the Scottsdale resident said. “That’s how I am in terms of how I design and really how I live. I’m a very traditional person and then I’m contemporary in some other ways. I love to watch classic English literature – shows like “Downton Abbey” and mov- Northern Scottsdale-based Avery Lane, a luxury consignment furnishings boutique owned by Scottsdale resident Darlene Richert, celebrated the grand opening of its expanded space, Avery Lane 2, on Sept. 6. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer) ies like “Pride and Prejudice” – but then I’m a very contemporary, success- in Scottsdale. People are redecorating, embellished vintage tins which Richert here, a store-in-store with 10 little ful businesswoman.” people are selling homes. If real estate picked up from Nick Alain’s Las Vegas booths, and create this place where Located in the Scottsdale Airpark, is doing well, we’re doing well.” shop. people want to have a business but Avery Lane celebrated its grand openAvery Lane sells strictly high-end deAlain is the industrial designer be- they can’t rent something like this,” ing of the additional 11,000-square- signer pieces and, more recently, add- hind Tom Tom in Los Angeles and Van- she said, adding: foot space called Avery Lane 2. It's ed original artwork to its roster. derpump Cocktail Garden inside CaeBut Avery Lane does have one store located adjacent to the original, Richert’s discerning eye has made sar’s Palace in Las Vegas, restaurants tucked inside its massive showroom: 12,000-square-foot store which the store a success. owned by “Real Housewives of Beverly Pagoda Lane. opened in 2012. “We’re different than any other con- Hills” and “Vanderpump Rules” star “I think it’s cool and we’re differRichert had her eye on the store next signment store, not only in Scottsdale Lisa Vanderpump. ent enough from what [Avery Lane’s] door the second the previous owners but [also] in the United States. We only “I’ve shopped with [Alain’s] show- got going on that it’s not a competivacated. do high-end designer pieces. We only room for years and the thing that I love tive thing at all,” said Heather Hassan, She acquired the additional space do collectible art,” she said. is his mom,” Richert said. who co-owns Pagoda Lane with Chip one month ago and spent a dizzying Avery Lane has an eclectic style and Alain’s mom, Michelle Mittelman, is Hassan. 20 days gutting and transforming the breathes new life into older pieces or a French woman who owns her own At Pagoda Lane, customers will find space with her team. antiques by uniquely pairing with con- company, Yesteryear, but she also plenty of gift items, including candles, “The reason for doing the expansion temporary pieces. showcases her one-of-a-kind vintage perfumes, canvas totes and 100 peris I have so many clients who want to “Our mentality is you don’t need tins at Alain’s Vegas and High Point cent cashmere ponchos priced at $88 consign their items in their households to start every room from scratch,” markets. each. and I have to say no because I’m full. I Richert said. “You can take some of “She is an artist herself, and she finds But what Pagoda Lane specializes in is just didn’t have the physical capacity the pieces you currently have and just these powder tins or cookie tins, and blue-and-white porcelain and authentic to take any more,” Richert explained. add some punch by adding new things then she hand-embellishes them. She Chinese home décor and furniture. Avery Lane has been successful since to them.” goes through and puts the jewel on “Our Chinese stuff is truly vintage it opened, experiencing a 10 percent That said, prices run the gamut, them, and she does this at her kitchen – and when I say vintage, that piece growth every year for the first few ranging from $20 accessories to 17th table,” Richert said. there is probably 180 years old,” Chip years, and increased to 12 to 14 per- Century Asian doors priced at $15,000. Behind the Avery Lane showroom is said, pointing to a distressed, handcent growth over the past three years. But what’s most intriguing about another 12,000 square feet of space painted chest. “So, obviously there’s a need for [con- Avery Lane is the stories behind every that, in the future, Richert envisions Avery Lane is located at 15613 N. signment],” Richert added. “I think we item for sale. would become a co-retailing space. Greenway Hayden Loop. have a pretty transitory climate here Take, for example, the set of hand“I wish I could create marketplace Information: averylanehome.com