There’s no doubt that the Twin Cities is in the midst of a retail baby boom—and the growing category has a new arrival. Bébé babble (3904 Sunnyside Rd., Edina, 952-922-2020) nestles in nicely at the family-friendly corner of Sunnyside Road and France Avenue South next to the Convention Grill. Owner Kendra Lewis (shown) is a former product design manager for Target who opted to shed her training wheels and go solo and opened her chic children’s store last December.
A mom herself, with a fourteen-month-old son, Gabriel, Lewis has filled her bright and sunny shop with gear for stylish, modern families with young children—mostly infants and toddlers, though clothing ranges from size 0 to 5. The store’s mini “lifestyle” departments make for easy, breezy shopping with little ones: Eat (bibs and dinner ware), Splash (body care), Sleep (bedding, cribs, and lighting), Party (paper goods, gifts, and cards), Play (toys, bean bag chairs, play tables), and Go (strollers, diaper and day bags, clothing, shoes, and accessories). The assortment is fresh, modern, and geared to parents with discerning taste. And she hasn’t forgotten the neighborhood: Bébé babble has a stroller parking zone for customers.
Lewis searches for boutique lines and local exclusives, including the work of local artisans such as retro print bedding by Hazel & Melvin, vintage fabric bibs by Sew Chic, and graphic wall art by Jay Nuhring, whose Elmo (shown) would be a hit in any toddler’s playroom. Bébé babble keeps it comfy with mostly cotton separates and nothing overly fussy when it comes to clothing, furnishings, or gear.
With the infancy stage of her foray into retail behind her, Lewis and her little honey of a store are set to make lots of friends.
