Expanding upon something that David Kindle posted elsewhere here on Back Talk, Paciugo — the trendy gelato people who have been in Central Market since it opened and who also have a huge storefront at NorthPark’s food court, among other Dallas hotspots — are planning a move to the old Bloomie’s space across from the Whole Foods site in Lakewood in spring 2008. Apparently, the Dallas-based Paciugo lost its lease inside Central Market; I imagine the HEB people decided to keep the gelato markup for themselves.
The move to Lakewood is a great endorsement of the neighborhood, and I think it’s the kind of homegrown but still upscale retail that the shopping center needs to keep its budding redevelopment going. If you’re interested in the thought behind this type of development moving into a neighborhood, check out Jeff’s retail analysis, too.
Parking will be a problem at the new location, though. There are a couple of street-side spots, as I recall, but that’s it; I’ve noticed that people park in the 7-Eleven lot to drop their dry-cleaning at Glo’s Cleaners next door due to the lack of street parking. Perhaps the Paciugo people are hoping that Lakewood residents won’t mind walking down Abrams or crossing Gaston to get to the shop. Having taken that walk more than a few times, I can say this with confidence: After dodging cars and sucking in the exhaust fumes, a pricey gelato treat will seem like a fitting reward.
