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LOS ANGELES -- Orv Madden retired in 2002 after founding Hot Topic, the music-influenced, counter-culture teen stores in 1988, and the Torrid concept geared to plus-size teens.
Madden, 56, started a small vineyard -- his first harvest of Pinot Noir is ready to bottle for this summer -- expanded his car collection, traveled, relaxed and gazed at the ocean.
But Madden couldn't stay retired. This fall he launched the Metropark specialty stores, which bowed in four California locations. Geared to the 20- to 35-year-old customer, this mall-based concept features contemporary lines such as Seven For All Mankind, True Religion and Trunk, and blends fashion, music and art.
He spoke last week with WWD.
WWD: What's the concept behind Metropark?
Orv Madden: We've tried to bring a street boutique experience -- the Fred Segal, Lisa Kline, Kitson [specialty L.A.-based boutiques] kind of world -- with premium merchandise into the mall.