L'Occitane, Charlotte Russe to open stores in Mall at University Town Center

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Two businesses with a French twist are the latest additions for the Mall at University Town Center.

L'Occitane applied for its building permit for an 800-square-foot boutique in the center court of the mall, while Charlotte Russe looks to build an 8,100-square-foot store on the second level near Dillard's.

L'Occitane was founded by a 23-year-old Olivier Baussan in 1976 in the France's Provence region using a distilling method to make soap, according to the company's website.

L'Occitane makes fragrances, soaps, lotions and men's care products now, ranging from $12 for shea butter soap up to $116 for a 1-ounce bottle of Divine Extract.

The company now has more than 2,000 boutiques around the world and 15 in Florida, plus two airport locations. The Mall at UTC would be the company's 16th boutique in the state. The closest shop is in International Plaza in Tampa.

L'Occitane will join skincare/cosmetics stores Art of Shaving, Aveda, Bath & Body

Works, Kiehl's, LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, MAC and Sephora.

Charlotte Russe started in 1975 in Carlsbad, Calif., and was named after the French dessert, according to the company's website. Today the store is headquartered in San Francisco and has more than 500 locations across the country. Charlotte Russe also has stores at DeSoto Square, Ellenton Premium Outlets and Westfield Sarasota Square mall.

The Mall at UTC off of Cattlemen Road and University Parkway is expected to open Oct. 16 and includes anchors Apple, Crate & Barrel, H&M, Dillard's, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Charles Schelle, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow him on Twitter @ImYourChuck.

This story was originally published July 29, 2014 at 11:12 AM with the headline "L'Occitane, Charlotte Russe to open stores in Mall at University Town Center ."