Ear-piercing retailer Rowan is building-out a store in St. Johns Town Center near Sephora.
The city issued a permit March 17 for R.E. Crawford Construction LLC of Sarasota to renovate a 1,405-square-foot space at a cost of $210,185.
New York City-based Rowan will open at 10281 Midtown Parkway, Unit 185, which is across the circle from Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant.
The heyrowan.com site says it is coming soon to St. Johns Town Center at 4663 River City Drive, D-11, another address for the storefront.
The store is where the streets meet at the traffic circle.
The storefront appears to be the location of Banter by Piercing Pagoda, next to Kay Jewelers. An associate at Banter said in November that a remodel was expected but was unsure about any connection with Rowan. An associate was unaware March 22 of any movement.
DxU Architects of Chicago is the architect. Simon Property Group of Indianapolis is the landlord.
Rowan says at heyrowan.com that nurses perform the ear piercings and the earnings are hypoallergenic.
It lists more than 60 locations in 29 states. There are three in Florida – in Gainesville, Boca Raton and Miami. Stores are coming soon to Dania Point and Winter Park.
Rowan says it is “all ears,” piercing and changing jewelry for the outer ear. It also sells earrings.
Rowan offers ear-piercing services for all ages, starting as young as 2 months.
The site says that founder Louisa Serene Schneider “wanted only the best for her kids.”
That “began her search for a fun, celebratory and safe ear piercing experience for everyone that can also be affordable. And when Louisa didn’t find one she founded one.”
The site says nurses are trained “to pierce all ages, all needs, and all ear placements.”
It does not use piercing guns, instead offering needle piercings and piercings by a special hand-pressurized device controlled by the nurses.
The jewelry is made of 14K solid gold, gold vermeil, gold plating over sterling silver, and sterling silver.
The Gainesville Rowan shows piercing starts at $35.