Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1439511
L ike most retailers when the pandemic arrived in Texas in 2020, Tootsies — a Dallas institution that has resided in a former Neiman Marcus store in Plaza at Preston Center for nearly 30 years — momentarily closed. But in February 2021, when winter storm Uri filled the two-story fashion emporium with 400,000 gallons of water, the store moved into a small, temporary space along Preston Road and began making plans for a much longer closure and a complete redesign. A to-the-studs renovation reunited the store with architect David Droese, who had a hand in the original design and led the Droese Raney team to devise a fresh look. Droese also teamed with Tootsies visual director Matthew Gilley for Mickey's Bar, a tribute to the store's beloved founder, Mickey Rosmarin, who passed away in 2016. Armed with complimentary seasonal cocktails for shoppers, the lacquered black bar suits the new space, a monochrome nod to Rosmarin's favorite color combination, with dashes of gold and lush emerald. Another notable change is a 12-foot- wide runway that spans the length of the store, to be used for in-house fashion shows. It's visually striking, but the new store layout also serves an equally functional purpose. "We really wanted to focus on shoppability," store director Nerissa von Helpenstill explains. "A lot of our clients enjoyed how the temporary space was laid out because they could see everything. We took that feedback and focused on streamlining." Look for new designers such as Tibi, Max Mara Weekend, Nili Lotan, Vaincourt, and Deepa Gurnani and Royal Nomad jewelry, to name a few. Even as Tootsies looks to the future, it remains firmly in touch with its history. Keep an eye out for hidden gems, such as the original Neiman Marcus elevator doors engraved with Southwestern- style motifs from the 1950s. Tootsies, 8300 Preston Road, 214.696.9993, tootsies.com. By Caitlin Clark. Photography Tamytha Cameron. TOOTSIES RECONNECTS AFTER SURVIVING A PANDEMIC AND DEVASTATING WINTER STORM, TOOTSIES RETURNS, BETTER THAN EVER. The airy new interiors were led by architect David Droese. Mickey's Bar Mickey's Bar serves complimentary seasonal cocktails. 38