Max's

It’s hard for me to believe, but last Saturday marked the 1 year anniversary in our new location!  The year has flown by, and I’m thrilled that customer feedback is that you like this location more than the other location – so do I!  So, to celebrate a little, I’ve invited the ShopGirls from myTalk107.1 back for another live broadcast from the store. We had so much time last fall when they stopped by, that it took me about one nanosecond to decide that this would be a really fun way to celebrate the occasion.  In addition to the anniversary, what better time to invite Allison and Alexis ….and you……to the store than right before Valentine’s Day,  as we host a chocolate tasting with the delicious confections from Minnesota-based St. Croix Chocolate Company.  Of course, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about the chocolate – jewelry works well too, right?   I hope that you’ll join us for the fun — and the treats! — the live broadcast will take place between 11-1 and the chocolate tasting is from 10-2.  And, because VDay IS right around the corner, we’ll be open this Sunday from noon – 5.

Ok, really…..we’re a month into the new year already?  Where does the time go?  So many people think that January is the time that retailer’s get to kick back and take it easy after the hectic holiday season.  Well, that’s not the case here at Max’s, as we’ve spent the month getting ready for Valentine’s Day.  After all, jewelry and chocolate are often the obvious gift choices for Valentine’s Day, and I’m guessing you won’t be surprised when I say that this is one time when we’re all in favor of doing the obvious!

Wow!  It’s really hard for me to believe that we’re at the end of the year!  At this time last year we were finalizing paint colors and maneuvering in between boxes, as we had already begun to pack up our old location in preparation to move.   2011 was an incredibly busy and exciting year for Max’s as we not only moved the store, but we also celebrated our 5^th birthday, and were named America’s #1 Coolest Small Store by INSTORE magazine!  I can’t thank all of you, our customers, enough for your support and encouragement along the way – not only this year but throughout Max’s entire life – because I couldn’t have done all of this without you.  As we turn the page and start a new year, I want to wish you and your families a very happy and healthy 2012. I am very optimistic about what 2012 will bring for all of us, and wish you only the best.  Happy Holidays!

You know it, you tell us you love it and you wait for it every year! Of course, I’m talking about this weekend’s trunk show featuring the work of Anne Sportun.  Since the very first day we opened our doors, Anne’s work has been one of our customers’ absolute favorites, and year after year, she never disappoints.  Anne has done an entire line in black diamonds (how about these stunners?), and we’ve been selling those pieces almost as quickly as they arrive.

To get things going this weekend, I hope that you’ll join us on Thursday, December 15, as we ring in the season with a little holiday soiree.  Join us for some tasty treats – mostly chocolate, of course – as we and other retailers here at Excelsior & Grand stay open late so that you can get all of your holiday shopping finished.  You’ll be able to enjoy special events from the other retailers, along with a sleigh ride.  Ok, so there’s no snow outside, so maybe it will be more like a carriage ride.  Either way, it will be a great evening here at E&G, and I hope that you’ll join us as wrap up this season’s incredible line-up of designer events with the Anne Sportun Trunk Show.  The show runs between Thursday, December 15 at 6 and Sunday, December 18 at 5, with our holiday soiree on Thursday between 6-9.

For those of you who have been shopping with us for a while, or who have been following us online, you’ll know that jewelry designer Vicente Agor brings his entire gorgeous collection to the store the first weekend of December every year.  You’ll also know that it’s always fingers-crossed around here in regard to the weather conditions for the weekend, as he has been here during some truly tundra-like cold weather, a “minor” snow storm (only 8 inches!) and, in last year’s case, a full-out blizzard. Nonetheless, being the good sport that he is (with maybe a touch of a “go ahead Mother Nature, I dare you” kind of attitude), he maintains that the first weekend of December is all about being at Max’s to help us get the holiday season off to a great, stylish start.  So, with no further ado, I am happy to tell you that we are anxiously preparing for a fabulous weekend with Vicente for a trunk show that will run Friday, December 2 through Sunday, December 4.

I am also really happy and proud to tell you that again this year, we are holding this trunk show as a benefit to support organ donation. Vicente is the recipient of a double-transplant, which makes him the recipient of a second chance at life.  Last year, he shared his thoughts about how this experience changed his life (think Life 2.0) and allowed him the the ability to follow his focus on his passion of designing fine jewelry, and he has graciously agreed to share these thoughts again this year during an artist reception on Friday night.  Joining Vicente on Friday will be Heidi Ash, the chocolatier of 185Chocolat, Brandyn and Mario Negri and Kate Williamson of Sigh Yoga.  Heidi’s chocolate company is named the way it is because she is the 185th recipient of a heart transplant at the Mayo Clinic, and she will speak about how she thinks of her transplant as a joyous experience, as it allowed her a second chance to pursue her dream of creating delicious chocolates.  She will also be sampling her chocolates, so please come hungry!  Prior to opening her yoga studio, Brandyn received a kidney transplant from her then-boyfriend/now-husband Mario.  After the transplant, she knew she wanted to focus on being healthy. Being a dedicated yoga student, she completed her 200 hour certified yoga teaching program. At that point, it became clear to her that she wanted to share yoga with her community and offer a special environment to do it in. Kate Williamson is an instructor at Sigh Yoga who anonymously donated her kidney in December of 2008 which she calls a life-changing experience.  Worth New York has graciously agreed to partner with us for this very special event, and will be hosting a Sample Set Sale of their luxurious Fall and Winter 2011 Collections on Friday and Saturday.

Needless to say, this weekend is going to be really special. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Vicente’s jewelry will be donated by Max’s and Vicente to LifeSource, a non-profit organ and tissue donation organization, the University Transplant Assistance Fund at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview and University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. 185Chocolat and Worth New York will also be donating a portion of their sales proceeds to LifeSource.  The trunk show will run on Friday, December 2 (11am – 9pm), Saturday, December 3 (10am – 6pm) and Sunday, December 4 (noon – pm).  The chocolate tasting will run on Friday evening during the reception between 6 – 9pm, and the sample sale will take place on Friday and Saturday (trunk show hours) in the club room next door to Max’s at 3820 Grand Way.

So I hope that you’ll join us.  We’ll have exquisite jewelry, delicious chocolates, and beautiful clothing.  What more could one want?  How about a second chance at life?