Mark Hearne, former vice president of sales and marketing for well-known decorative home furnishings manufacturer The Lam Lee Group, has opened his own retail venture in Dallas. Lam Lee Home is the first independently owned retail venue to position itself as a branded source for the company's signature products.

"There was always talk and interest in opening a retail store, people suggested it every market, but nobody stepped up and did it," Hearne said. "Lam and I talked about it and he gave me the opportunity to be the first to open a Lam Lee store. I didn't want to be the guy sitting here a year from now thinking I wish I would have done that."

Hearne, a 20-year veteran of The Lam Lee Group, stepped away from his position with the company in April 2005 to begin working on this project. He and his wife Shelley spent several months researching the retail demographics of their hometown and settled on a prime storefront located in Inwood Village, a fashionable shopping center surrounded by the upscale neighborhoods of Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow and Bluffview.

"We chose this site for our store because of the center's noteworthy reputation as a destination for consumers seeking a unique shopping experience," Hearne said. "This location coupled with the distinctive product mix from Lam Lee will give customers an exciting alternative when shopping for decorative home furnishings."

The store's entrance features an intimate cobblestone courtyard and the store has a gallery-like atmosphere with an open floor plan, high ceilings and neutral colors. Lighted and mirrored cases throughout the space display accessory collections. Lam Lee Home encompasses 4,040 square feet and showcases a broad range of furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, wall decor, gifts and textiles. Though the store is strictly Lam Lee product, Hearne does see the need to bring in other pick-up items like candles.

Hearne had a soft opening Dec. 10 and is pleased with the amount of foot traffic he's had. For now he and his wife are running the store because "we want to know what we're doing before we bring other people in." He plans a grand opening later this month.

The 4,000-sq.-ft. store is stocked solely with Lam Lee products.