Doing business in Laguna

Barbara Diamond

One door opens as another one closes is a metaphor for accepting

change. In Laguna Beach, it’s business as usual.

Hayes Jewelers, a cornerstone of business on Forest Avenue since

1962 is closing. Art for the Soul opened just one week ago.

The two stores are as different as chalk and cheese. Hayes is a

quiet, refined showcase for jewelry and watches. Art for the Soul is

a riot of color, starting at the front door.

Purple, black and taupe replaced the pastel aqua and pink exterior

that fronted the beauty supply store that occupied the location for

years.

“It’s a very sophisticated color scheme,” said Valinda Martin,

owner of Art for the Soul.

Bold as it is, the exterior pales in comparison to the uninhibited

interior. The ceiling is black. The walls are painted saffron, lime

green, salmon, red, fuchsia, blue and purple. Art for the Soul is not

the place to go for the Shabby Chic look.

“Color is vital to me,” Martin said. “People need color in their

lives. They are attracted to it.”

The Forest Avenue store is Martin’s second. She opened her first

store 5 1/2 years ago on Balboa Island.

However, even with that much experience, Martin said she wasn’t

prepared for the rigorous process for opening a business in Laguna

Beach.

Still, she was able to lease and renovate the space and, despite

some opposition from downtown merchants, be approved for a

conditional use permit and open to the public in less than three

months.

“That is unheard of,” Martin said. “The city has been extremely

nice. The Planning Commission really liked my concept. And the

response has been wonderful. There has been no downtime since we

opened.”

The Laguna store is slightly smaller than the Balboa Island store,

but the feeling is completely different, Martin said.

“My whole twist is inspiration and color,” Martin said. “The store

combines the two and we have something for everybody.”

The store carries what Martin describes as American hand-crafted

furniture and decorative items that are whimsical, colorful and

inspirational -- with calligraphy playing an important role.

“If customers don’t react to the color, they react to the words,”

Martin said.

Mirrors are big sellers, so are perpetual calendars and “story

people.”

Martin’s favorite “story” advises that an Angels’ only job is to

make sure you don’t get too comfortable and miss your life.

Art for the Soul is located at 272 Forest Ave. The store will be

open late for Hospitality Night, but usual hours are 10 a.m. to 6

p.m. For more information, call (949) 497-8700.

Hayes Jewelers has been located at 246 Forest Ave. for more than

40 years. Harriet and Grover Hayes opened the store and the family

has since then been intimately acquainted with the births,

engagements, marriages and anniversaries celebrated in town,

providing jewelry and watches as mementos of the events.

Kelly and Mike Hayes bought the store from their parents in 1986.

No closing date has been set. The entire inventory of jewelry is

on sale, including diamonds, precious gem stones, 14- and 18-karate

gold chains, bracelets and earrings. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5

p.m., Monday through Saturday,.

For more information, call (949) 494-3513.