FASHION FORWARD!

Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel bring their eye for style to Plaza del Lago opening a new storefront for SPACE519.

Shopping should be an experience. Not a spectacle, not a show, but something special. And it’s about more than product; it’s about ambiance, attitude, anticipation. It’s an alchemy that’s not easy to achieve, but fashion retailers Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel have mastered the magic. Their SPACE 519 in Chicago has long been the destination choice for style-savvy shoppers seeking the perfect piece—and having a good time while doing it. That’s about to get a whole lot easier, with the debut of SPACE 519 at Wilmette’s newly refreshed Plaza del Lago.

“When we started SPACE 519, Jim and I had owned stores and been traveling and buying women’s designer clothing for almost a decade,” says Lawson. “On our European buying trips, we discovered so many things that excited us in categories like home, apothecary, and stationery and wanted to bring the idea of a small, curated department store to Chicago.” Known for sourcing the best from the likes of Jil Sander, KHAITE, Proenza Schouler, and Thom Browne, Lawson and Wetzel are now expanding their offerings, presenting hard-to-find collections such as New York-based Partow and Milan’s SA SU PHI, importing the Fornasetti home collection, and debuting Dr. Few Skincare on the North Shore.

Lawson and Wetzel had been looking for a suitable North Shore location for years. Wetzel, born in Winnetka and raised in the northern suburbs, always had a fondness for Plaza del Lago, designed nearly a century ago by architect Edwin Hill Clark. “When WS Development—the company behind the redevelopment of the property—approached us three years ago, we felt an instant connection,” says Lawson. “Their vision was inspiring, and we love seeing a vintage space brought back to life.”

The couple has been utterly hands-on in creating the new space, devising the floor plan, adding windows and enlarging an existing skylight, and custom designing fixtures and much of the furniture. “We have a trademark style we call ‘happy modern,’ where clean lines are softened by mid-century finds and warm wood,” shares Wetzel, whose career includes stints as design manager at Henri Bendel and store director at Gucci in Chicago. “For this location, we collaborated with Winnetka-based Maggie Meiners on a statement art piece behind the cash wrap and with Paige Spearin on a North Shore-themed mural. That was an incredibly rewarding part of the process.”

Key to the SPACE 519 formula is the marriage of fashion and food and North Shore customers can look forward to multiple options here: The Lunchroom, a 50-seat all-day sit-down restaurant; The Lunchbox, for barista drinks, baked goods, and gourmet grab-and-go; and a new concept, The Lago Room, a stylish 40-seat European style café during the day and a chic spot for a late afternoon cocktail or early evening glass of wine. “We’ve been very inspired by the old school department stores like Marshall Field’s with its Walnut Room and Freds at Barneys,” relates Lawson. “We were inspired by places like Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan, where operating a cafe makes a store even more of a destination. We added The Lunchroom downtown when we opened our current space on Chestnut Street in 2018, and our business has soared, largely because of the energy the cafe provides to the overall business. It is the secret sauce.”

“Some may come for the food and not shop; others may dine and grab stationery or a home item on their way out,” suggests Wetzel. “And we’ve seen many people come for a salad and leave with a new dress or pair of shoes. We really appreciate each and every customer and are truly excited to be a part of the North Shore community.”

For more information, visit space519.com.