New wave of trendy shops adds to rich flavor of Red Bank
BY LAYLI WHYTE and CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writers

LAYLI WHYTE Victor Conti shows off a custom Von Dutch cycle.

Take a trio of trendy, Soho-style boutiques, add a macho chopper haven and you'll have a feel for the new center of gravity taking shape on West Front Street in Red Bank. All within a short walk of each other, the newest retail shops are generating foot traffic and buzz that goes on into the evening hours of the weekend, when most keep the lights on for visitors to the downtown.

Von Dutch Kustom Cycles & Clothing of New Jersey

14 West Front St.

Von Dutch in Red Bank is the newest dealership for Von Dutch motorcycles and VDKC apparel, accessories, jewelry, neon signs, collectibles, hats, helmets and more for men and women. The company is named for Kenny "Von Dutch" Howard, a mechanic who is credited with reviving the pinstriping of cars and cycles in the mid-1940s. Von Dutch adapted the ancient flying eyeball symbol and modified it to become a symbol of the Von Dutch style and "kustom kulture" that dictates an appreciation for the open road, creativity and artistic celebration of America's rebel motorcycle past.

LAYLI WHYTE Kelly Ryan and Danielle Guercio of Runway 11.

Known for building choppers, Von Dutch has been well received in Red Bank, according to owner Victor Conti, who said the custom choppers can run between $37,000 and $51,000.

Conti said the Von Dutch signature clothing line ranges from affordable to higher-end styles.

"We have T-shirts starting at $19 all the way up to $79," Conti said.

"We really bring a different flavor to the town," he said. "Von Dutch is known all over the world and we're helping to put Red Bank up there with Rome, Tokyo and Moscow."

Hours at Von Dutch are Sunday, Monday and Tuesday,: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Runway 11

16 West Front St.

CHRISTINE VARNO The owners of 4B wanted to bring a New York vibe to Red Bank.

Hand-made accessories, Italian designer clothing, a professional photographer and make-up artists combine at Runway 11 to offer a new spin on the conventional "beauty shop."

Kelly Ryan, owner of Runway 11, is a professional make-up artist who aims to offer customers something different.

"Everybody who works here is a graduate of FIT {Fashion Institute of Technology} or Parsons [School of Design]," she said, "or is a trained make-up artist. This is a fun place for people who can't, or don't, want to go all the way to New York but want to get the same treatment."

Runway 11 offers photographs taken by Mark Weiss, who has shot album covers for Bon Jovi and other celebs.

According to Ryan, headshots start at around $250 and full color portfolios run about $1,000.

Ryan said the clothes and accessories for sale at Runway 11 were an afterthought, since the original idea was for a photography studio.

CHRISTINE VARNO Shoes are among the trendy accessories at Rok + Lola.

"We thought, 'Let's put some clothes in here,'" she said. Then she added handmade jewelry crafted of silver, gold and semi precious stones, The pieces start at $50.

The boutique's clothing, by small Italian design house Rinascimento, is priced at around $60 for skirts and $100 for a sun dress.

Hours at Runway 11 are: Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight.

4B

4B West Front Street

When the owners of a high-fashion women's clothing boutique were scouting for a location for their new business, Red Bank was the obvious choice.

"Red Bank is a cool town that is up and coming," said Mimi James who owns 4B with her husband, Cooper. "This area is the most like Manhattan that we have here in Monmouth County," James said. "It just has that Soho feel to it."

Open just a few months, the shop is attracting a following, she said.

"We've been getting a lot of foot traffic, with our exposure to Broad Street. I think customers are happy to have a store that they would find in Soho right here in their backyard," she added.

4B carries dresses, jewelry, handbags, sportswear, bathing suits, shoes and everything else in between, according to James, who said the store's style is aimed at the "sophisticated shopper."

"We are not a jeans and T-shirt store," she said. "We are more collection oriented."

Brand names featured include Habitual, Siwy, Twinkle, Rachel Roy, Vena Cava, Adam and Eve and designer handbags by Luba J and Golden Bleu.

But James, who has a fashion background, said that to look stylish "clothing doesn't have to be a designer label or super expensive."

"Our price range is vast," she said. "You can come in here and buy earrings for $20 or pay $2,000 for a handbag."

4B is open Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Rok + Lola

23 East Front St.

The latest fashion trends and celebrity styles from Los Angles and New York can now be found locally at this new urban-chic boutique.

Rok + Lola is owned by Barbara Dente, of Staten Island,who feels she picked the right spot for her new venture.

"Our location is great," she added. "People have heard about us through word of mouth and the foot traffic has been really good."

Dente is a fan of Red Bank and wanted to add a bit of Manhattan style. "Every time I came here to visit friends I just loved this town," she said.

Rok & Lola carries clothing and accessories for men and women, teens to baby boomers. The store stocks T-shirts, jeans, shoes, dresses, skirts, hand bags, accessories and more with price points for all shoppers, Dente said.

"You can buy a pair of flip-flops for $14 or you can get a coat for over $1,000," Dente said.

Fashion labels include jeans by Genetic, Kasil and I Generation and fashions by Charlotte Ronson, Ella Moss, Tart, Lily McNeal, Sanctuary and Primp. Shoe labels include French Soles, Seychelles, and Havainas and the store carries handbags by Anna Corrina.

"We have a mix of prices because that is how people shop," said Dente's daughter Jill, who helped create the boutique's fashion imprint.

"People can come in here and buy something at a great price or just one expensive item," Jill said. "We are making these hard to find lines easily accessible." Rok & Lola also will arrange appointments with celebrity stylists and fashion consultants for customers.

The boutique is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and later, according to Dente.