In business news this week, Renew Denim opens up downtown, Wachovia transitions to PremierWest Bank, mattress store Sleep Center opens downtown, and Cindy’s turns into Thai Dynamite at night.
Renew Denim
222 D St.
Renew Denim is a new retail store downtown that caters to both the style and budgets of local students.
Barth Ballard, Renew Denim owner, grew up in Davis and wanted to open a store he thought the community would appreciate.
“I spent many years in marketing research at Levi’s and I recognized that jeans were the most important item in the high school and college wardrobe,” Ballard said.
Renew Denim’s goal is to make their products affordable, he said. All of Renew Denim’s jeans are sourced from “off-price” markets that offer closeouts and overstock items at 30 to 60 percent off typical retail prices. All are priced between $29 and $99.
“We’re focused exclusively on off-price merchandise,” Ballard said. “It’s really the one area of the apparel business that’s growing and we wanted to bring Davis the best denim brands without the price tags to match.”
Ballard also wants to include UC Davis students in Renew Denim’s retail process.
“We currently have a UC Davis student in the textile department who will be creating a line of embroidered or embellished jeans out of used jeans,” he said.
Renew Denim is looking for more creative talent not only in textiles but also amateur photographers who would like an outlet to showcase their work as interior décor for the store, Ballard said.
PremierWest Bank
333 F St.
Wells Fargo & Company acquired Wachovia Bank on Dec. 31, which means the Davis branch of Wachovia will soon become Premier West Bank.
The deal between Wells Fargo and Wachovia required Wells Fargo to sell six Wachovia stores, including the one in Davis, Julie Campbell, spokesperson for Wells Fargo, said in a written statement. The Wachovia in Davis is currently located across the street from a Wells Fargo.
“We are particularly excited with the opportunity of welcoming the customers and employees of the Davis and Grass Valley branches to the PremierWest family,” said Jim Ford, President and CEO of PremierWest Bancorp in a press release. “We look forward to becoming active members of the Davis and Grass Valley communities.”
While this change is occurring, Wachovia will remain open and both Wells Fargo and Wachovia customers will have free use of ATMs at both banks.
Sleep Center
706 Second St.
Sleep Center is now open in the space previously occupied by Carousel Stationary and Gifts.
Sleep Center owners have stores at nearby locations, but this is their first time opening a store in Davis.
“We have another location in Sacramento and one in Vacaville,” said manager Ian Tillman. “The Davis location is really good and we just couldn’t resist it.”
Sleep Center has already seen a good amount of business despite the fact that they have yet to put up their storefront sign, Tillman said.
Sleep Center has seen a few students but mostly families so far, he added.
“We specialize in mattresses,” Tillman said. “We have really well known brand names and we can offer aggressive pricing.”
Cindy’s/Thai Dynamite
4823 Chiles Rd.
The popular breakfast and lunch diner Cindy’s, located off of Mace Blvd is now open for dinner.
The restaurant, previously only open for breakfast and lunch recently changed ownership and decided to open its doors for dinner as well, said owner Scott McArthur.
McArthur’s wife is from Thailand, which inspired him to create a Thai restaurant for the dinner aspect of Cindy’s.
“We are now Cindy’s by day and Thai Dynamite by night,” McArthur said. “We have an entirely different staff for the dinner shift at night.”
McArthur’s wife Diane, usually runs the dinner shift with a Thai staff, he said.
“We are already getting a lot of repeat business,” McArthur said.
McArthur hopes that through more advertising Thai Dynamite will become a popular dinner destination.
CAITLIN COBB can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
