Kirkland's to open 2 decor stores

Home-decor retailer Kirkland's is setting up shop in metro Charleston next month with two new stores.

The Nashville, Tenn.-based company will first open a 5,500-square-foot store in the Walmart-anchored Wando Crossing Shopping Center at 1501 U.S.. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant Aug. 13-15. The second 6,500-square-foot store will open at the Best Buy-anchored Northwoods Marketplace at 7620 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston Aug. 20-22.

Each grand opening will feature Mount Pleasant interior designer Alexandre Fleuren, who will give free advice in 15-minute one-on-one sessions from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 14-15 in Mount Pleasant and at the same time Aug. 21-22 in North Charleston. Customers should bring photos or camera phone images of home areas that need help. Kirkland's has 284 stores across 28 states, including six in South Carolina.

Food line

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre will soon land a new restaurant.

Qdoba Mexican Grill, franchise-owned by 316 Investments of Indianapolis and operated by Adobo LLC, will open at 1333 Theatre Drive beside Atlanta Bread Co. by early October.

Described as an artisanal kitchen, Qdoba serves fresh, natural ingredients and not frozen or bagged products. Qdoba also can be found near Tanger Outlet Center in North Charleston.

Sole power

German-owned Rack Room Shoes opens today at 245 King St. in downtown Charleston. It joins other Rack Room stores in the Charleston area at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and Northwoods Mall. Its U.S. headquarters is in Charlotte.

Fashion statement

Fashion retailer Hampden Clothing's shop at 314 King St. in Charleston recently doubled in size, expanding to 2,800 square feet from about 1,550. Customers will find stained concrete floors, antique tin-tile ceilings and sleek chrome fixtures along with complimentary water, wine or even champagne, a lounge with a flat-screen TV for the husband or boyfriend, and a handwritten thank you note for each purchase.

The high-end designer and contemporary clothing shop is owned by South Carolina native Stacy Smallwood, who has another store in Greenville. Smallwood is a former assistant buyer and department manager for Neiman Marcus' flagship store in Dallas.

Pet project

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre will partner with Subaru of Charleston to sponsor "Stuff the Subaru" to benefit the Charleston Animal Society at the premiere of the "Cats and Dogs 2" movie at Palmetto Grande Theater on Friday and Saturday. Movie patrons are asked to drop off pet supplies such as dog toys, dog ropes, cat litter, catnip and disinfectant wipes to be stuffed into a 2010 Subaru Forester and 2011 Subaru Outback.

The Charleston Animal Society will host pet-themed games in the movie theater lobby, so children will have a chance to help raise funds for animals and win prizes. Kittens will be available for adoption, as well.

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