Rosalynn Sumners Downsizing Kirkland Showroom, Eyes Business Expansion

Edmonds native Rosalynn Sumners said she plans to expand the retail presence of her Eastside business, Bella Tesori, but to do that, she first will be reducing the size of its current location in Kirkland.

Bella Tesori is getting ready to reduce its retail showroom in Kirkland--from 2,500 square feet to the 650-square-foot space at the corner of its current location, formerly Bella Bambini--but its game plan is actually a significant expansion of Bella Tesori, owner Rosalynn Sumners says.

"We're downsizing to focus on interior design more," which Sumners has been a growing part of Bella Tesori's business model.

Reducing the retail space here will also let her focus on finding an even bigger retail space to expand, most likely in Bellevue, but she says she'll always maintain a retail presence in Kirkland. Another location, possibly in Napa, Calif., could follow later, she said.

Currently, the corner space is under construction and the home decor showroom is having a sale to reduce stock in preparation for the move, which Sumners said will be completed hopefully by April 1.

The hometown favorite of both Kirkland and Edmonds residents, where she grew up and lived through her competitive and professional skating career, told Patch in 2011 that operating retail stores during the recession had been a struggle.

However, Sumners said that though it's a contraction of her retail presence here, Bella Tesori is in growth mode--and plans to stay in Kirkland.