Italian sandal shop, French bistro coming to La Plaza La Jolla shopping center

Previously announced tenants, Beaming cafe and Elixir Espresso Bar, also set to open in August

La Plaza La Jolla boutique shopping center, which opened in April with a sole restaurant tenant, Catania, finally appears to be coming together, following last week’s announcement that two new retail shops and a second ocean-view restaurant will soon open there.

Opening in August are Azzura Capri women’s sandal and clothing boutique, and Kenneth Barlis bridal shop and women’s formalwear.

Azzura Capri owner and designer Diana Carolina, a native of Venezuela and a former student at All Hallows Academy in La Jolla, said she got the inspiration for her luxury women’s sandal line while traveling in the Mediterranean, which included a stint on the resort island of Capri, off the coast of southern Italy.

Carolina’s 609-square-foot pop-up shop follows the opening of her flagship retail store in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood 18 months ago. Her sandals can also be found in stores in Miami, Los Angeles, Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Hand-crafted in Italy, each is made from Tuscan leather and adorned with Swarovski crystals. The boutique will also feature women’s fashions by notable European designers.

A former Fashion Week San Diego honoree, Kenneth Barlis’ 1,277-square-foot bridal and women’s formalwear boutique is also scheduled to open next month on the ground floor of La Plaza, as a pop-up.

Born in the Philippines, Barlis has shown his collections internationally and has been featured in Vogue Italia. He is known for his luxurious designs featuring signature intricate layering, detail and use of natural materials.

Finally, Le Petit Bistrot, a French bistro helmed by St. Tropez celebrity chef Gérard Chauvet (Hotel Byblos, Elton John, George Michael), is scheduled to open on La Plaza’s third floor in December. It will be the franchise’s first California location, with another opening in Santa Barbara in January 2016.

The bistro will serve traditional Parisian home-style dishes created by Chauvet and his sous-chef and son-in-law, Pierre-Olivier Dedieu, including French onion soup, escargots a la bourguignonne and duck confit et pommes salardaises. The eatery will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a full bar menu, including an extensive selection of wines curated by the bistro’s sommelier, Julien Gaignier.

Le Petit Bistrot will feature a Parisian design and ambiance. Diners will be able to view dishes being prepared via an open kitchen. The 1,677 square-foot bistro will seat 80, with a terrace overlooking Girard Avenue.

Also open at La Plaza, located at Girard Avenue and Wall Street, is La Scarpa women’s shoe boutique on the third floor. Previously announced and also scheduled to open next month are Beaming organic superfood cafe and Elixir Espresso Bar. laplazalajolla.com