J. Jill to open store downtown

A national retailer that sells clothing and accessories catering to women age 35 and older plans to open its first Spokane store.

J. Jill is opening a River Park Square store sometime around November, said Lauren Cooke, public relations manager for the chain.

The retailer operates 201 specialty stores nationwide, Cooke said. Quincy, Mass.-based J. Jill has four stores in the Seattle area, according to the company’s Web site.

The company had $450 million in revenue last year, and was recently purchased by Talbots Inc.

Cooke said the Spokane store is among nearly 30 store openings planned this year. J. Jill executives chose the Spokane market because a number of local women shop from its catalogues, she said, and representatives liked the River Park Square location.

River Park Square management declined to give a location for the new store, saying the lease hasn’t been finalized.

However, Sandra Wilson, a saleswoman at Chrysalis Home Interiors, said that store was asked to leave its ground-floor location, near Rock City Grill, to make way for J. Jill.

The locally-owned Chrysalis has been at the mall for two years and is currently clearing out its selection of furnishings, décor and gifts.

Wilson said the business’ lease was expiring and its owners were offered another location, but declined. She noted that the mall is increasingly attracting national retail chains rather than independently owned stores.

Bag `n Baggage also closed, making way for the expansion of Chico’s, a specialty women’s retailer located in space next to the former luggage store.

Miaz Boutique, which sold women’s and children’s clothing and was located next to Chrysalis, has closed.

Its owner, Meghan Brown, plans to open a new shop named Cues in another downtown location. Brown’s business partner, Trish Thoen, said a lease is being finalized.

Cues will feature women’s contemporary clothing, and is expected to open in September.