Party City, Ulta opening in Summerville

It's party time for Azalea Square in Summerville.

By summer's end, the shopping center will be home to the Charleston area's second Party City location. The party supplier will occupy about half of the former 25,000-square-foot Linens 'n Things emporium that went out of business at the start of the year, according to Michael Silverman, an agent for The Shopping Center Group in Charleston, which handled the deal.

Party City will take up 12,395 square feet while women's salon and cosmetics store Ulta will move into the rest of the building, which is undergoing renovations, Silverman said.

Michael Zaifert and wife, Sherrie, have owned the local Party City franchise, including the store in West Ashley since 1996. The Santee couple also own Party City franchises in Savannah and Jacksonville, Fla. Zaifert said he chose the location because of the growth pattern in the area.

"Summerville seems to be where everything is moving," he said. "We feel Azalea Square ... is the power center for the region."

Zaifert plans to open around Labor Day. Meanwhile, Ulta plans to open in early November, said Justin Bledsoe, general manager of the store at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre.

It's a 10

An initiative to change people's spending habits and inject a stimulus into the region's economy by urging them to buy one of every 10 purchases from a locally owned merchant kicked off June 30 at Marion Square with a "Declaration of Independents" signed by local government leaders and 250 businesses.

Now, Lowcountry Local First, as the movement and group is called, will host an official launch party from 7-10 p.m. Friday at 10 Storehouse Row on the old Navy base in North Charleston.

The group hopes to get shoppers, businesses, government agencies and non-profits to shift 10 percent of their annual budget from non- local businesses to locally owned and independent shops.

Admission is 10 cents. For information, go to 10percentshift.com/sc or lowcountrylocalfirst.org.

Matching up

Daniel Island is home to a new artisan's boutique and studio. Perfect Match, owned by local actor and jewelry designer Yvonne Herold, offers a mix of art, gifts, home decor, furniture, clothing and one-of-a-kind pieces, many of which are made or designed by local artists. Classes for all ages include art, drama, yoga, sweetgrass basket-weaving and shag lessons. The shop is at 162 Seven Farms Drive.

In the know? Do you know of a retail business that is opening, closing or expanding? Reach Warren Wise at wwise@postandcourier.com or 937-5524.