The Girlfriend Gift Store

Some entrepreneurs are born out of necessity.

A year ago, 56-year-old Lisa Lee found herself laid off from Woodlands Market, a Marin gourmet grocery store where she had spent more than a decade as a buyer.

Lee was shocked, but also realized she had long craved to parlay her retail experience into something new. And now opportunity was knocking.

She set off planning her next venture and this July 1 opened Velvet Ice Collection in Petaluma's Theater Square.

The cozy store, formerly occupied by Accents, sells purses, scarves, candles, journals, plates and other gift items. There are horse-theme glasses and place mats, leaf shaped plates, lotions, shabby chic furniture and even a small section of children’s clothes.

“I wanted to have everything in one location so you can pick up a gift for a girlfriend, then a little something for yourself,” says Lee.

Lee’s experience as a buyer taught her that even in a bad economy, certain items—purses, scarves, jewelry and chocolate—continued to sell well.

“I guess everybody needs their little vice,” she says.

Lee, who makes her own jewelry and designs holiday gift baskets, plans to rotate merchandise according to season and even introduce a wish list women can leave at the store for their husbands or significant others to look at when hunting for a gift.

“Men can be so clueless when it comes to buying gifts,” Lee says. “My hope is that I can help them.”

Velvet Ice is located at 140 Second St. in Petaluma's Theater Square across from the Fire Department. The store is open 11am to 7pm Monday and Tuesday, 11am to 8:30pm on Wednesday, 11am to 8pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday.