It’s been nearly three years since Boston-based WS Development purchased Montgomery Village, an open-air shopping center in Santa Rosa, and it’s fair to say the property has undergone a complete renovation since then.
Montgomery Village has been working over the last year to give the shopping complex a fresh coat of paint, update lighting fixtures and add more courtyard space for families to gather.
The final renovations on the south side of the shopping center are expected to be completed in time for the holidays.
In addition to the renovations, the shopping center saw many long-standing, established retailers, including Classic Duck, Cattlemens and Clutch, close or relocate to other locations in Sonoma County (Cattlemens relocated to Rohnert Park, while Clutch continued to operate from its Tucson, Arizona, store).
But the shopping center has also welcomed national and local brands in the past year: Locally, Punch Clothing and children’s clothing boutique Cupcakes relocated to Montgomery Village from longtime locations in downtown Santa Rosa, and Sebastopol’s Last Boutique opened a second temporary location last holiday season.
Among the changes is new general manager Chris Miller, who took over a few months ago after a long career in the hospitality industry in Sonoma County.
“In addition to the great local and nationally beloved businesses joining The Villages, we’re excited to unveil our newly revamped community gathering space,” Miller said in a news release. “Our goal is to create a place for people in the community to come together, socialize and relax, so interacting with our guests and learning what they most want is really exciting for us to help reflect that in our development.”
Three new retailers are coming
According to a news release, the shopping center is set to have three new brands opening in 2025. New stores will include luxury cosmetics retailer Blue Mercury, facial bar Face Foundlier and fast-casual sandwich and salad chain Mendocino Farms.
These will be the first Sonoma County locations for all three businesses: Mendocino Farms already has one North Bay eatery in Vacaville.
Bluemercury is a luxury beauty retailer known for its selection of premium cosmetics, skincare, haircare and fragrance products. The company was founded in 1999 and has more than 170 stores nationwide. Some stores also feature in-store spas that offer facials and brow styling to customers.
The second retail location, FACE FOUNDRIE, is a skincare bar focusing on facials, lashes, brows and other skincare services. The next closest location is in San Francisco.
FACE FOUNDRIÉ was founded in 2019 by Founder and CEO Michelle Henry with a focus on making facials, eyelash extensions and other facial services fast, easy and affordable.
The first store will open in Edina, Minnesota, and Henry said he plans to expand the business through a franchise concept. The brand currently has 43 stores nationwide, with plans to open at least 60 by the end of the year.
Mendocino Farms, a fast-casual salad and sandwich spot, opened its first location in Downtown Los Angeles in 2005 and has since grown to more than 50 locations with plans for more.
“We look forward to bringing fresh, flavorful sandwiches, salads and more to Montgomery Village in 2025,” Mendocino Farms CEO Kevin Miles said in a news release. “We’re excited that our first location in Sonoma County will be a place where friends and family can come together and share the joy of a quality meal.”
Bluemercury and FACE FOUNDRIÉ will be located in storefronts near Sur La Table, Amour Vert and Shake Shack, while Mendocino Farms will open in the newly renovated Courtyard space.
“We continue to expand our roster of great tenants as we look ahead to 2025,” Miller said in an email.
New sidewalks, renovated courtyard
Montgomery Village management has been working to renovate and update the 70-year-old shopping center since WS purchased the property on June 7, 2021.
In addition to freshening up and revamping the patio, the shopping center added numerous seating options, a children’s play area and dog resting area, as well as other landscaping and hardscape improvements.
Renovations at the Courtyard are still underway but are expected to be completed by the end of the year, Miller said in a news release.
The area will also double as an event space, hosting community events such as Wellness Weekends with guided yoga, meditation and HIIT workouts, Fête de la Music events featuring live music from Bay Area musicians, and an end-of-year Holiday Weekend Santa Sighting.
Another major project was the creation of “The Passage,” a covered walkway connecting the north and south ends of the site, creating public space and additional storefront space.
The cost of the renovations has not been disclosed.
Contact staff writer Sara Edwards at 707-521-5487 or sara.edwards@pressdemocrat. com. On Twitter: @sedwards380.
