Eccola’s new Los Angeles store opens on Beverly

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Kathleen White and Maurizio Almanza, owners of Italian furniture showroom Eccola, have just opened a second showroom on Beverly Boulevard. But here’s the kicker: It’s only seven blocks from the original Eccola on La Brea Boulevard. They plan on keeping both open. A sign of good retail times to come?

‘We actually needed more space to showcase our containers from Italy,’ says White, who along with husband Almanza opened the La Brea location five years ago. ‘It may sound crazy to have two stores that are five minutes apart, but we’re discovering that a completely different kind of client is finding us on Beverly.’

Specializing in antique and vintage Italian furniture, lighting and accessories, the couple say that the new store will also carry some contemporary pieces from Italy along with ‘sleeker’ vintage finds such as a Carlo de Carli emerald-green glass-topped dining table from the 1950s ($8,800) and a 1970s Alessandro Becchi sofa that looks like a futuristic futon ($5,600).

The new store, a 4,000-square-foot warehouse-style building that had been the corporate offices for L.A. Eyeworks, is on a section of Beverly near Martel Avenue that’s continuing to evolve into a design hub. Specific Merchandise, which we blogged about earlier this year, opened a block away, joining Modernica, Gary Gibson, Walnut Wallpaper and other home shops along the street.

The new Eccola is at 7408 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 932-9922. It’s open Monday through Saturday.

-- Alexandria Abramiam Mott

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