Boutique Retail
2 luxe beauty and style shops check into highly anticipated downtown hotel
Its soft opening isn't set till this summer, but already, the C. Baldwin Hotelis shaping up to be one of downtown's must-visit addresses. C. Baldwin, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, announced it's inked deals with two high-end purveyors to open retail operations in the hotel's Allen Center location.
Sloan/Hall, the lifestyle boutique known for its carefully curated jewelry, accessories and home goods, will occupy 600 square feet in C. Baldwin's Rottet Studio-designed lobby, and Paloma, the luxury salon that uses only non-toxic products for its nail and beauty treatments, will set up shop in about 1,300 square feet. Both are expected to open in September.
“The addition of Sloan/Hall and Paloma to the amenities at C. Baldwin cement our desire to create a truly unique downtown destination that will not only serve the needs of travelers and visitors, but also the people who live and work in the area,” said Maggie Rosa, C. Baldwin's general manager, in a press release announcing the retail partnerships. “And much like our namesake, Charlotte Baldwin Allen, these brands will soon be pioneers in their own right as they bring much needed upscale retail and beauty offerings to the heart of downtown Houston.”
Sloan/Hall already has Houston operations in River Oaks. At C. Baldwin, the brand will focus on providing customers a tightly edited version of that store, with a constantly rotating mix of small gifts, jewelry, fashion, and design.
Co-founder Shannon Hall said, “We are thrilled to be part of C. Baldwin. The painstaking detail that has gone into this incomparable project will provide guests and visitors a truly unique Houston experience. And we look forward to tapping into the potential of a downtown venue.”
Meanwhile, the Paloma expansion will be the third operation for the brand that first opened in Uptown's BLVD Place in 2015 and later opened another outpost in Heights Mercantile. Maryam Naderi started the salon with a desire to provide a healthier mani/pedi experience. With the C. Baldwin location, she expects to continue providing treatments with non-toxic products, while tailoring them to the needs of hotel guests.
Paloma will have five manicure and five pedicure stations, plus a dedicated esthetician room for facials and waxing. Clients will enjoy an accessible pricing structure well below that of area spas — currently the only service providers downtown — two hours of complimentary valet, exclusive lines, and high fashion colors.
“We’re eager to fill a void downtown and give both women and men a quick and convenient escape completely free of the harmful chemicals commonly used in traditional nail salons,” said Naderi.
C. Baldwin and its retail partners are part of the continuing evolution of downtown's Allen Center, which serves as the western gateway to Downtown from its location off Bagby and West Dallas streets. Currently the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Downtown Hotel, C. Baldwin will be a boutique experience with carefully chosen amenities and services.