Apricot Lane Expansion Planned for Charlotte

RALEIGH, NC, March 02, 2013 (Press-News.org) Apricot Lane, a popular national boutique featuring celebrity-inspired affordable fashions for the everyday woman, is expanding its footprint in the Southeast with three stores planned for the Charlotte market. The chain, which operates under the franchise company Country Visions and has its corporate office in California, previously had one store in the area, located in Huntersville's Birkdale Village. That store closed in early February and was revamped under new ownership. It will officially reopen by this Friday, March 1.

All visitors to the new Huntersville store will receive 20 percent off storewide from Friday, March 1, through Sunday, March 3. Additionally, shoppers can enter for the chance to win a $500 store shopping spree and everyone who comes in will receive a free 3Strands bracelet. The production and sale of the bracelets, an $18 value, benefit survivors of human trafficking. The Apricot Lane Triangle NC store owners purchased these bracelets to support the cause and are also donating an extra $5 to AIM for each bracelet they hand out.

The franchisee for the Charlotte stores, Alpha Astra, LLC, has aggressive growth plans for developing the chain in the Southeast. Led by husband and wife George and Carol Toulas, Alpha Astra opened two stores in North Carolina at the end of 2012, one in Raleigh and one in Cary. The company is already working on its third Triangle store planned for Durham's The Streets at Southpoint this spring. Simultaneously, it overhauled the Huntersville location and is working on real estate for two other Charlotte stores.

"Charlotte is an impressive market for its business, entertainment, cultural and family appeal, and it's an area we planned to develop since we started this venture," said George Toulas. "The old store in Huntersville was individually owned and based on earlier corporate ideals. Shoppers who come by the new boutique, once opened, will get an entirely different experience very similar to what we're doing in the Triangle. It's all about fashion-forward styles and personal assistance. We cannot wait for people in Charlotte to see the new Apricot Lane in all of our upcoming locations!"

Apricot Lane boutiques feature top-of-the-line styles from the L.A. fashion district. The store's selection focuses on fun, fearless fashion at affordable prices, with new women's clothes, handbags, jewelry, other accessories and gifts arriving daily.

Alpha Astra's current open boutiques are located in Raleigh's North Hills Shopping Center and in Cary Towne Center Mall. You can learn more about these Triangle stores at http://www.apricotlanetrianglenc.com or http://www.facebook.com/ApricotLaneTriangleNC. For regular updates and to join in the conversation about the upcoming Charlotte Apricot Lane boutiques, follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ApricotLaneCharlotte.

About Apricot Lane:
Apricot Lane Boutique is a national retail franchise that specializes in unique, one-of-a-kind items and brand names known for their quality and fashionable style trends, quickly moving the store to the forefront of chic boutiques. Featuring celebrity-inspired fashions and designer labels offered in the convenience of neighborhoods across the country, Apricot Lane carries an impressive collection of branded fashion apparel, jewelry, handbags and accessories to create looks seen right off the runway and in the pages of any current fashion magazine. Apricot Lane retail boutiques are supported by the franchise company Country Visions. For more information about Apricot Lane, visit http://www.apricotlaneusa.com.