BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

Walking into the La Perla Design Gallery in the Montrose Shopping Park, the smell of scented candles by Bridgewater fills the air.

Walk a little farther and one will notice the polished silver works of Michael Aram.

A further look will reveal handmade jewelry works by Vahe from his Twisted collection, and from Glendale artist Yeva.

Family-owned La Perla Design Gallery is the latest business to open up along the Montrose Shopping Park, at 2315 Honolulu Ave. The store had its grand opening Sept. 28.

“We want the product that we sell in the store to be unique, where the customer is not going to find it at regular department stores,” said La Perla Design Gallery co-owner Jake Menachian. “We want to get into artists that are unique in their vision, in their designs, and bring their product to this gallery and to introduce it to Montrose, La Cañada and La Crescenta.”

La Perla Design Gallery offers handcrafted items that are made one piece at a time, said La Perla Design Gallery co-owner Sona Menachian. Jake describes his products as containing “a lot of intense labor.” If Jake Menachian calls an artist and asks him to make 10 pairs of earrings, it could take the artist about two months.

And handmade doesn’t have to mean expensive, Jake Menachian said. La Perla offers items ranging from $20 to $500.

“We have the idea to offer pieces in all price ranges,” Sona Menachian said. “If you are looking for an anniversary gift, you can find something.”

The store prides itself on offering products in all price ranges and for all occasions, from anniversaries, to birthdays, to weddings. A jewelry box, for example, intricately designed with multicolored jewels on the lid sells for $106, and can be easily given as a birthday or anniversary gift, Jake Menachian said.

The idea behind offering handmade pieces stemmed from the works of Michael Aram, Jake Menachian said. Aram’s works were one of the first the store offered. Aram is a well-known artist in the Armenian community, so it seemed fitting to begin selling works that were familiar in the Armenian community, Jake Menachian said. Aram’s line contains everything from cocktail accessories, furniture and lighting, to home scent and personal care.

Co-owner George Ashjian knows of Aram’s work well; Ashjian’s father worked in handmade crafts 50 years ago, so the younger Ashjian knows whom to look for.

“I started searching, searching, searching, and we found Michael Aram,” Ashjian said.

Then, after attending several conventions, including the Atlanta International Trade Show, the owners knew which kinds of artists they wanted to feature, he said. The store features artists from Glendale to New York, Louisiana, Europe and the Middle East.

“Believe me, we’re always on the look for local artists,” Jake Menachian said.

Opening La Perla was Jake Menachian’s idea, who along with co-partner Ashjian and financial supporter Harry Mardirossian, opened the store after Jake Menachian and Ashjian were laid off from their jobs in marketing. Jake Menachian, who co-owns Critters with Mardirossian, also in the Montrose Shopping Park, decided to open the store and expand on the idea of the store that used to occupy their space, Village Artist Gallery, in the process, bringing something unique to Montrose, Jake Menachian said. The three men know one another through their wives, who are all first cousins.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Ashjian said. “Everything, whatever you see, we did it ourselves.”

Initially, Ashjian had the idea of opening a wine lounge, and Jake Menachian had the idea of opening a candy store.

“Combining together as a team made this dream a reality, given the circumstances of the economy,” Jake Menachian said.

Jake Menachian and his co-owners are not fazed by the current economic situation.

“They always say that hard times is an opportunity for people who want to take the risk,” Jake Menachian said. “The reason is, when the economy picks up, you are already there to make it, versus, when the economy is good, everyone’s jumping in to make things happen.”