By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Here comes the bride.
Cue the music, straighten the tie and ready the rings, because a bridal boutique plans to open next year in downtown Salisbury.
Bellissima is coming to the Plaza in the heart of the city, appropriate for a shop that will specialize in dresses for weddings and other romantic special events.
Owner Monica Cameron has signed a two-year lease with Downtown Salisbury Inc., which acts as the leasing agent for the Plaza. The city owns the seven-story building at the corner of Main and Innes streets, which features apartments, offices and soon, retail.
“I’m really, really excited,” said Cameron, who hopes to open in early 2012. “There are many details to be announced.”
Demolition is under way to remove interior office walls and open up 1,200 square feet of retail space for Bellissima, which means “very pretty” in Italian and was inspired by Cameron’s honeymoon in Italy.
Downtown Salisbury will pay for demolition and new floor covering, Executive Director Randy Hemann said. Cameron will pay for the renovation and upfit, which Hemann called extensive.
The shop will feature new floors, ceiling and lighting, he said.
F&M Bank’s ATM machine will remain at the location, but the bank has reduced the amount of space it uses to operate the ATM, making more room for retail.
The boutique’s signs can appear in the black glass on both sides of the Plaza, above the entrance on the corner, according to the lease. The signs for F&M Bank will move to the spaces further from the corner of the building.
A disagreement over signage was one reason Travel Associates left the Plaza last year, the last tenant to occupy the space.
Cameron signed a two-year lease, which started Saturday. According to the lease, rent begins at $500 per month and increases yearly to $750 in 2012, $1,000 in 2013 and $1,250 in 2014, if Cameron chooses to renew the agreement.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.