Studs and Lola and The Boys are Plaza del Lago’s newest gets

The reinvention of Plaza del Lago continues with a pair of new shops.

Studs — an earring and ear-piercing studio, or as Studs calls it “earscaping” — held its grand opening inside Plaza del Lago’s arcade shops on Saturday, Feb. 14.

The Wilmette storefront is Studs’ second in Chicagoland, the other in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The California-based brand born in 2019 has locations from coast to coast.

According to a news release, the Studs in Plaza del Lago “will offer an inviting front-of-house for retail and consultations, private piercing rooms, and a wide selection of cute, high-quality earrings safe for sensitive ears.”

Studs is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information and to book a piercing appointment, visit the Studs website.

Studs will soon welcome a neighbor to Plaza del Lago’s arcade shops. Children’s-clothing boutique Lola and The Boys is moving in on March 5.

Irina Ovrutsky, of Chicago, founded Lola and The Boys in 2016 with an online store focused on “bold, joyful and playful” children’s clothing.

The location in Wilmette is the brand’s first suburban shop, while it also has three stores in Chicago and another in Miami.

“We are thrilled to expand our footprint in Chicago with the opening of our new location at Plaza del Lago,” Ovrutsky said in a statement. “Plaza del Lago’s family-friendly, community-driven setting aligns perfectly with our brand audience, and we look forward to connecting with new families throughout the North Shore.”

Lauren Bennett, general manager of the plaza, said that Lola and The Boys’ “imaginative spirit and modern approach” fit right in to the “revitalization” of Plaza del Lago.

Plaza del Lago — a historic property that claims to be the second oldest shopping center in the country and features an open-air concept around an indoor galleria — has seen significant changes since WS Development purchased the shopping center in 2022.

While former plaza shops, such as Yellowbird Stationery and Chantilly Lace, have relocated and some have closed, WS Development has been busy for the last two years announcing incoming brands, highlighted by a 13-shop announcement last summer.

Some of the additions are already open, including SPACE 519, rag & bone and Jenni Kayne, while others, like Hermés and restaurant The Henry, are yet to come.

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