A month after shuttering its longtime home at Galleria, upscale women’s fashion boutique Arafina has made a surprising move—to boutique co-op D.NOLO. The North Loop store-within-a-store concept was founded in 2013 by local retail vet Veronica Clark as a way to bring several unique retailers under one roof, picking up on a trend that has grown in popularity on the coasts.
Arafina was originally christened Bellagio by longtime retail buyer Ann Rutledge Ackman in 1998 in Edina’s 50th and France shopping district. It moved to Galleria in 2000, when Ackman was forced to change its name by the Las Vegas hotelier Bellagio (also founded in 1998). Though the shop originally specialized in stylish professional wear, it has since changed its focus to special occasion dresses and separates.
The move to D.NOLO is something of a downsize for the store, which currently holds down about a quarter of the square footage it originally maintained. But fans of the shop can still expect Arafina favorites such as Clover Canyon (known for its bright patterns, neoprene fabrics, and body-con silhouettes) and Nicole Miller, plus new brands including My Tribe.
D.NOLO is also home to outposts by 50th and France boutiques Bluebird Boutique and Bumbershute as well as vendors Area (women’s contemporary apparel and shoes), Rosegold (jewelry), and Kindred (Clark’s own shop, which carries a mix of women’s clothing, handbags, and accessories).
Now open, 219 N. 2nd St., Mpls., 612-916-7895, arafina.com & dnolo.com
