Fashion Valley store lineup gets an update

Fashion Valley is getting two more boutiques that are opening their first stores in San Diego.

True Classic sells men’s, women’s and kids T-shirts and casual wear, including shorts, swim trunks and jackets. Its items are also available at Target, but this will be the first dedicated store locally. Other shops are in Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota, and elsewhere in California.

Rowan will open in fall 2026, a mall representative said. This brand offers “a fun, celebratory and safe piercing experience for everyone,” with hypoallergenic products and piercings done by licensed nurses, according to the store’s “coming soon” description on the mall website.

J. Crew will open a Fashion Valley store as well. It once had a boutique at the mall near Anthropologie, but that closed several years ago.

Last year Fashion Valley announced the addition of several luxury brands, and more recently, Uniqlo opened there.

New names and a chance to give back

Two new stores have landed at The Forum Carlsbad. Abercrombie & Fitch is opening this month, and Tecovas, the Austin-based bootmaker, is bringing its footwear and Western wear to the mall. That opened on Halloween.

On Wednesday, Geppetto’s Toys at the mall will launch its holiday toy donation campaign, the charity program’s seventh year. This year a $100,000 anonymous donation will fund the purchase of toys. Geppetto’s will also donate toys, and members of the public are also welcomed to donate.

The donation supports Toys for Tots, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program that ensures “every child experiences the magic of the holidays,” a news release said.

“We are honored to partner with such an inspiring donor whose generosity continues to touch countless families across San Diego,” said Brian Miller, the owner of Geppetto’s, in the news release. “By the end of this year, our total contributions will reach $750,000 over seven years, a powerful reminder that this act of kindness is what the holiday season is truly about, spreading joy and giving back to those who need it most.”

People who give donate a toy at The Forum Carlsbad on Wednesday will be entered into a raffle for a $100 Geppetto’s gift card.

Ready set: leap, climb, soar

Calling all junior ninjas. A new kind of children’s fitness experience has landed in Poway: USA Ninja Challenge is opening in Poway, and its founders have the pedigree to deliver an elite ninja experience.

The founders are Obi and Mark Amrine. She is a Marine Corps. veteran. He has an MBA. They are both parents.

“After 20 years in the Marine Corps, where she led high-level strategic intelligence initiatives and coordinated NATO and Special Operations Command integration exercises, Amrine is now channeling her leadership into youth fitness,” a news release said.

In parallel, “Mark, with a background in business development and child development support for military families, holds a B.A. in psychology and an MBA,” the company website says.

Children from age 2 and a half to 17 can embark on the obstacle course training program that “combines basic skill sets from gymnastics, climbing, cross-training, and track and field,” the website says. The fitness center, at 12222 Poway Road, Unit 27, also hosts parties, classes and competitions.

More slime

Slime Kitchen is opening its second San Diego area location, at Otay Ranch in Chula Vista.

It opened its first boutique, in Mission Valley, this summer, and is drawing avid fans, the founder said in a news release.

“The response from families in San Diego has been incredible,” Kathy Ando, Slime Kitchen’s founder, said. “This city is full of creatives and dreamers who have embraced Slime Kitchen from the start, and we are beyond excited to open a second location and continue to grow alongside a community that shares our love for exploration and connection.”

To celebrate the new launch, the company will host a grand opening on Nov. 22 starting at 11 a.m. The event will let guests try their hand at slime making and “the first 50 attendees will receive a special slimy surprise!” the news release said.