EDGY TECHNO-STORE CATERS TO YOUNGER PEOPLE METRO PARK APPEALS TO THOSE IN 20S, 30S.

Byline: JULIA M. SCOTT Staff Writer

Suburbanite and downtown hipster mix about as well as oil and water. But one retailer coming to the Valley hopes to change that.

Metro Park is slated to open Oct. 6 at Westfield Topanga when the mall unveils a $500 million expansion and face-lift.

The pricey chain sells edgy apparel by boutique designers and outfits its stores with plasma screens playing short films of models flirting in clothes that can be purchased in- store.

``We are in the mall but not of the mall,'' said spokeswoman Laura Bojanowski. ``We want to offer an experience that's different than what you would typically find in the mall.''

Metro Park carries the brands Monarchy, triple five Soul, and Joe's Jeans, but offers more than just clothes. On Saturday nights, a disc jockey spins tunes while customers shop, and some stores sell original poster prints for $50. Artists occasionally create works in stores live.

All the stores have lounges tucked into the back where shoppers can flip through magazines and purchase a chilled energy beverage.

The fusion of stylized threads, music, technology and suburban locations has served Metro Park well.

After launching four stores in 2004, the City of Industry-based retailer opened 14 more across the country. All are in malls.

Founder Orv Madden created Metro Park after retiring from Hot Topic, which he started in 1989. Madden wanted to create a clothier that would cater to a generation of tech-savvy, fashionable 20- to 35-year-olds, the fastest-growing segment of the population, according to Bojanowski.

``He looked around the mall and said, `Who is going to cater to them?''' Bojanowski said.

On a recent afternoon, the Metro Park store at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks seemed popular with teenagers.

Alana Falo said she liked the edgy clothing but wasn't willing to pay the high prices.

``They are original,'' said Falo, 16, of Moorpark. ``But they're overpriced.''

Many purses, tops and accessories were priced below $60, but jackets and jeans run well into the $100s and $200s.

For C.J. Stevens, cost was part of the draw.

``They have money,'' said Stevens, 17, of Newbury Park, after browsing the store with friends. ``Their clothes must be cool.''

Frankie Figueroa, who manages the Beach Works store next door, sees plenty of customers drawn into Metro Park by the three flashing screens posted at the entrance.

``It totally works,'' Figueroa said. ``We'll have a T-shirt for 26 bucks and they'll have it for $50, and theirs sells quicker.''

julia.scott(at)dailynews.com

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4 photos

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(1 -- color) A sign points out the Metro Park store in The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks. Another will open Oct. 6 in the Westfield Topanga mall, offering clothes by boutique designers and stores outfitted with plasma screens.

(2 -- 3 -- color) Niki Alsop shops at Metro Park in The Oaks mall Wednesday, above. Left, a handbag with religious icons is for sale at the store; another Metro Park is planned for the Westfield Topanga mall.

(4 -- color) The Metro Park at The Oaks is staffed by, from left, Priscilla De Leon, Jenna Koerner, Otto Tojin and Steven Joslin.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer