By Meredith Moss/DAYTON DAILY NEWS
Though the grand opening of the new Lazarus store is officially slated for this weekend, it didn't take savvy shoppers long to discover the store's "soft opening" a week and a half ago. The word quickly spread.
"I couldn't wait to get out here," said Sandra Bunn of Beavercreek, while browsing last week. "I think it's great."
Most of those who checked out the latest addition to the Mall at Fairfield Commons shared Bunn's enthusiasm.
Angela Riviello of Dayton and Renae Sylvester of Fairborn regularly visit the mall with their infants in tow and quickly proclaimed the children's department at the new Lazarus "the best in the mall."
The 150,000-square-foot store (131,000 square feet of selling area) has wide aisles and easy-to-view collections that are well-labeled by designer or manufacturer.
The spacious dressing rooms in every department include a stall designed for the handicapped.
Still, Debbie Altman of Washington Twp. is one shopper who finds the new store disappointing. "I don't think it's as nice as the Dayton Mall store," she said.
The two fall into different classifications, according to Dan Bukey, regional vice president of Dayton and Cincinnati stores for Lazarus. While the Fairfield Lazarus is classified as a "better" store, it's the "bridge" stores that feature the most exclusive designers, especially for women.
For instance, in Fairfield's Better Sportswear department, you'll find labels such as Liz Claiborne, Carole Little, Jones New York, JH Collectibles - all drivers of Lazarus' women's clothing business. For men, you'll see Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Claiborne for Men.
But if you're in the market for Hart Schaffner & Marx, Dana Buchman or DKNY, you'll need to head for the Dayton Mall, the company's "bridge" store.
Why aren't the more expensive designers in both stores? "We've tried it both ways," explains Bukey, who says the demographics don't support having such merchandise at more than one store in a city.
Bukey says the company found it most successful to establish one bridge store in each of its market areas to house, display and market those high-\ priced goods. In our case, the Dayton Mall has traditionally been the bridge store.
That same principle applies to furniture. Lazarus has recently completed a third-floor Dayton Mall addition that functions as a complete home store, bringing the total selling space of that store to 225,000 square feet.
Fairfield sells bedding, housewares, tabletop, china and televisions, but does not have a furniture department.
In addition to "bridge" and "better" categories, Lazarus also has "midsize" stores, such as Kettering and Salem Mall. In other markets, it also has "small" stores.
Petite Debbie Altman has one more comment about the new Lazarus. Though the women's restrooms are "gorgeous," she figures they must have been planned by a man.
"The hooks on the door for hanging your purse or your coat are at least 7 feet tall! How many 7-foot women do you know?"
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Grand opening special events
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* Noon Friday: Fashion designer Nicole Miller (creator of whimsical designer men's ties) will give out free perfume miniatures of her new fragrance.\ * 6-8 p.m. Friday: Wedding fashion show for brides and grooms. Representatives from 30 manufacturers and bridal professionals.
* 11:30 a.m. Saturday: Lucky Vanous, male model and the Diet Coke man.
* 2 p.m. Saturday: Spiderman in the children's department.
* 1 p.m. Sunday: Cooking demonstration by Martin Yan, host of PBS's Yan Can Cook.
Informal modeling will take place from 6-8 p.m. Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1-3 p.m. Sunday.
[ILLUSTRATION] PHOTOS:
1. Marisha Keller puts the finishing touches on a display of sportswear at Lazarus (COLOR)
CREDIT: JIM RUTLEDGE/DAYTON DAILY NEWS
2. Nicole Miller\ 3. Martin Yan
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