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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Neighborhoods Employment Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 17, 2006 Papillon Rouge owner Eric Maxwell is turning several downtown stores into a Italian-themed marketplace on McAndrews Road. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) Marketplace to make its move Italian-theme stores planned for Medford By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Eric and Amy Maxwell have a new twist in mind for a collection of downtown stores. The proprietors of Papillon Rouge boutiques in Larson Creek shopping center and East Main Street are working on a new concept featuring several existing Italian-themed stores that will open in McAndrews Marketplace early next year. La Strada will house Bella Bambino, a children's store; Pattini, a shoe and accessories shop; an Italian cafe (*clarification below) and a new Papillon Rouge location. The latter is "not too hard of a transition being my wife is Italian," said Eric Maxwell. "The French who live in Italy are easily mixed together. The Tuscan feel and French feel can be easily crossed over if done right and carefully." Advertisement Maxwell originally hoped to be in the new location — near the intersection of McAndrews and Biddle roads — by Thanksgiving weekend, but is now shooting for sometime in the first quarter of 2007. "It's going to be an open floor plan with 20-foot ceilings," Maxwell said. "It's structured to look like an Italian street, lively and refreshing. We're painting the ceilings with a bright-blue sky and there will be plenty of synergy between the stores." A spokesman for R.A. Murphy Construction said the tenant improvements for the 3,665-square-foot project will run more than $250,000. Maxwell recently purchased Bella Bambino, which has operated at 20 S. Fir St. The business was started two years ago by Christina Cota, Lisa Hutchins and Jennifer Wilkinson. Hutchins had her third child this year and decided to forgo retailing to spend more time with her young ones. "At some point you have to make a personal decision to be away from your children or not," Hutchins said. "The store was a lot more time-consuming than I originally thought." At the same time, Hutchins' father, Joe Pedrojetti, is adding two galleries to the Joseph Winans Furniture operation in the Fir Street building. She said Maxwell's retail approach appealed to the Bella Bambino owners. "We're looking forward to what they're going to be doing," Hutchins said. "We knew they had a quality business up and running. This store has been our baby and we wanted it to continue with somebody taking care of it and doing a good job with it." The Estilo store at the Fir Street location will be folded into La Strada. The shop is owned by Hutchins' sister, Gina Pedrojetti, and Kelly Dixon, who have two boutiques in the Phoenix, Ariz., area. "What was Estilo will be put into La Strada lines," Maxwell said. Vincent and Virginia DiCostanzo will operate an Italian cafe with daytime hours. Pattini has been in operation since mid-2005 on the corner of East Main and Bartlett streets. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] . *Clarification: The original version of this story referred to the franchisees of Vinny's Italian Kitchen in Eagle Point. The Italian cafe at La Strada will have no connection to Vinny's. Return to sentence with error. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing GMAT Prep Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com