Nick Kotko’s Something Old Something Nouveau just celebrated 10 years in business in the North Coast town of Fortuna.
The success of the sports collectibles, video games, comic books business persuaded him to open a location in Redding. Which he did two years ago on Hilltop Drive.
Busienss has gone well for Kotko in Redding. So much so that he needs more room.
Kotko found a larger space, and he will open at his new location in downtown Redding on Tuesday, May 26.
“We needed a lot more space. We had to expand every section from Hot Wheels, comic books, video games,” Kotko recently told me.
Something Old Something Nouveau’s new location is at 1712 California St. in the former Zoe’s Travel Shoppe space next to Foundry Square near the corner of California and Placer.
The store is among a handful of businesses that have opened in the downtown over the past year. Other’s include Ferris Wheel Kids and Logic Ciderbar & Alehouse.
Kotko said they will have a grand opening celebration on Friday, May 29.
He did not really have to look at too many places before he decided on downtown. That’s because the price was right.
“When we saw the price per square foot (to rent) we couldn’t pass it up,” Kotko said.
He was paying $1.25 a square foot on Hilltop Drive compared to $1 a square foot downtown, Kotko said.
“We have 20-foot-high ceilings so we can put all kinds of stuff up way up along the walls,” he said.
Something Old Something Nouveau will be open downtown 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Karline’s Restaurant & Bar pivots from outdoor downtown patio
Three years ago, Karline Niver, owner of Karline’s Restaurant & Bar in downtown Redding, was working on plans to bring an outdoor vibe to her business.
Working with architect Les Melburg, Niver wanted to build an outdoor patio in front of Karline’s on Center Street.
But Niver recently told me that by the time she got the permit, the cost to build the structure had gone up so much she decided not to go forward.
Enter Plan B.
“We are putting in landscaping. There will be a sidewalk up to the front of the restaurant,” Niver said. “We will have a good-sized metal sign, and we will fill in the space with black shale rocks.”
There also will be bike racks for customers who want to pedal to the restaurant. Karline’s is along the Diestelhorst to Downtown Walking and Biking and Trail.
She estimates the new landscaping will be finished by the end of June.
Meanwhile, Niver’s other downtown restaurant, Déjà Vu, is doing well since moving from California Street to Shasta Street in early 2024.
“Absolutely fabulous, best thing we ever did,” she said of the move. “The parking is better for us, everything about it; the location.”
“Honestly, it changed our whole business. It brought our business back. It was slowly dying,” she added.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding collectibles shop owner on the move. Karline’s new plan
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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