Bridal-gown shop re-opens downtown - Grand Rapids Business Journal (subscription)

Shannon Gale is re-opening her successful business.

Vue Design, which designs and makes custom bridal gowns, is holding a grand opening celebration on Friday from 4 p. m. until 9 p.m. at its new location in the Peacock Building at 11 Jefferson Ave. SE, just south of Fulton Street.

“We have most things ready. People will at least get a glimpse of our new location and some of the services we offer in our new location. They’ll also get kind of a sense of what’s coming from us,” said Gale of the event.

Her new address offers her more space and that extra room has given Gale a chance to expand the services Vue Design offers. Gale said she has 1,200 square feet of space just on the first floor, where the showroom is situated, and a lower level where the design and production areas are.

When Gale debuted her business in October 2011 at the MoDiv incubator on Monroe Center, she only had 500 square feet for both her showroom and production area.

Now that her Jefferson store gives her more than double the space her previous shop had, Gale has been able to enlarge the business’ production operation and add the sewing classes her customers asked for to the list of services Vue Design offers. “It allows to us expand and grow,” she said.

Gale left Vue’s space at MoDiv at the end of March, but had signed a lease for the Peacock space with Locus Development in January. In the meantime, she ran her business by appointments only from her Ada Township studio while her new space was being built out.

“Business has actually been very, very steady. We saw an increase from last year, so given the fact that we were out of the public eye that was really exciting and encouraging,” she said. “It’s always good to see growth.”

Last January, Gale unveiled her new line of ready-made bridal gowns called the Shannon Gale Collection at the two-day Winter Bridal Show held in DeVos Place. The line can be seen at Vue Design’s new shop and at September’s Bride, which is at 56 East 8th St. in Holland.

“They can look at the ready made, but if they want customization they can come here,” she said.

Following Friday’s grand opening, Vue Design will begin its regular hours on Monday. The shop will be open from 11 until 6 Monday-Friday and from 11 until 5 on Saturdays. Appointment can also be made by calling Gale at 616-460-6128.

“We are also looking at doing appointments only a couple of days a week, but we haven’t figured out which days yet,” she said. “We’re working through that.”