By: Laura Eckstein Jones By: Laura Eckstein Jones | September 11, 2024 | People, Style & Beauty, Shop, Style, culture, Trends, People Feature, Creators, Apple News, City Life,
Paolo Carini and Raan Parton bring a chic sensibility to Signal Shops, their new retail and hospitality destination in DTLA.
Paolo Carini and Raan Parton at Signal Shops; PHOTO BY YOSHIHIRO MAKINO
Signal Shops, Raan Parton and Paolo Carini’s new retail and hospitality destination, recently opened in DTLA’s buzzy Arts District. Located around the corner from where Parton and his wife Lindsay opened Apolis and Alchemy Works nearly a decade ago, this new development marks a continuing evolution and investment in a beloved part of downtown.
The founders—who met surfing eight years ago—bring a wealth of experience. Carini’s career spans over two decades, working with fashion family offices in Milan, New York and London. Parton, meanwhile, was after a more hands-on approach after working in the garment and textile industries through Apolis and Alchemy Works. Their first collaborative effort, Free Market in Denver, was a testing ground that confirmed their concept’s viability. “We both have a passion for concept stores and sought a mixed-use property where we could introduce a stand-alone concept independent of neighboring businesses as a destination,” Carinia shares.
The design of Signal Shops, a collaboration with Klein Agency, reflects a modern aesthetic with a nod to Californian Missions. “[Klein Agency’s] hospitality and residential projects made them ideal for achieving the warm, residential feel we desired,” says Carini. “The result is an open-air living room at the heart of the project, flanked by dramatic corridors and a striking Bottle tree centerpiece.” Current shops and cafes include Alchemy Works, Flamingo Estate, Departmento, Concierge Coffee and more.
Looking ahead, Carini and Parton, who run the development firm Stardust Partners, see Signal evolving over time. “We plan to introduce new, dynamic retailers and hospitality experiences that align with emerging influences and consumer interests,” says Carini. “Our focus will remain on creating an ever-evolving environment that attracts a discerning and engaged audience while staying true to our core values of creativity and collaboration.” They also have several new developments in the works, including Astral, a 60,000-square-foot mixed-use space, and projects in the Italian Riviera.
But what’s close to home is also close to their hearts. “We love the Arts District,” says Parton. “It is one of the few places in the country where the creativity and cool is happening effortlessly.”
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