the most magically glittery place on earth

Austin-based Kendra Scott rings up dazzling new Disney World boutique

The Austin jewelry maven's new shop will open at Disney next spring.

Photo by Jared Tennant

After a big win, you might hear a sports champion proclaim, “I’m going to Disney World!” as part of a Disney TV ad campaign. Now, Austin jewelry entrepreneur Kendra Scott can legitimately utter the same phrase.

Next spring, the Austin-based Kendra Scott brand — a purveyor of jewelry and other fashion accessories — is opening a store at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Disney Springs is a retail, dining, and entertainment center.

The 1,650-square-foot Disney Springs store will pay tribute to the Kendra Scott brand’s work with Inheritance of Hope, a nonprofit that brings hope to young families facing the loss of a parent due to a terminal illness. For the past five years, the brand has collaborated with Inheritance of Hope to host an all-expenses-paid weekend retreat to Walt Disney World Resort for families coping with a parent’s diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. To date, more than 70 families have gone on these retreats.

“Aside from being an integral addition to our brand footprint, I am thrilled to be opening this location at Disney Springs in celebration of a philanthropic program that is so dear to our hearts,” Tom Nolan, CEO of Kendra Scott, says in a news release.

Scott stepped down as CEO in February and named Nolan as her successor. She remains executive chairwoman of the company. Nolan previously held the titles of president, chief revenue officer, and chief marketing officer at the business.

The brand, which employs over 2,000 people, operates more than 100 standalone stores in the U.S., including three in Austin.

Forbesreported earlier this year that the company’s annual sales are $360 million. The company, which Scott started in 2002, is valued at more than $1 billion.

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Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

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