Trendy teen golf store for girls ups the ante on West Palm Beach's South Dixie corridor

The flagship store of a trendy teen clothing brand aimed at girl golfers is opening on South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach as the corridor continues to draw upscale retail and design shops.

Marie Birdie, which was founded in California and brought to West Palm Beach by company principal Rebekah Alfond, is renovating the former La Cabana Latin Grill in the 7000 block of South Dixie with the expectation of opening by April.

Alfond bought the flamingo pink building last year for $2 million. She said she knows some people in the community were hoping for another restaurant to open in the space but that juggling drink and food vendors while operating a clothing store became unrealistic, she said.

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“I really wanted to give this brand a chance, and given its proximity to a public golf course, it’s the right spot,” Alfond said. “Usually when you walk into a pro shop as a tween or teen, there’s no real estate for girls, so this fills that void.”

The shop is less than a half mile from The Park, West Palm Beach’s public golf course at the south end of Georgia Avenue along the C-51 canal.

Marie Birdie features colorful '60s-inspired skorts, dresses and tops that can be worn on the tennis court or playing other sports, Alfond said. South Olive Park, which has public tennis courts and a soccer field, is just southeast of the shop.

Since the pandemic, commercial building sales on South Dixie Highway and Georgia Avenue have transformed no-frills warehouses and office spaces into art houses, boutiques and design showrooms as people flocked to Florida to escape strict lockdowns.

The opening of the golf course last year could increase golf-related businesses in the same way.

"The Park is a great anchor," Alfond said.

Another golf-related business is opening this spring in a remodeled former warehouse on nearby Georgia Avenue across from The Park.

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The facility, called Golfusion, was co-founded by Scottish PGA Professional Dylan Ross and his wife, Lourdes Zenteno. It is designed to offer a holistic approach to learning and honing golf skills, including expert coaching.

Its building at 7310 Georgia Avenue has a state-of-the-art Zen Green and Swing Stage that can change slope angles, three Trackman ball flight technology booths, a fitness center, a red-light sauna with a cold plunge tub, a therapy room and a conference room. Each client will be given individualized plans. While prices haven't been finalized, Ross said he envisions a membership-style plan.

“Through golf, you can touch so many points and work on the overall well-being of a person,” Ross said. “We see the game of golf as a vehicle to enjoy life. People are so passionate about the game, and when it gets into your bloodstream, it’s powerful.”

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Tom Frankel, a member of the West Palm Golf Community Trust, said golf enterprises such as Golfusion and Marie Birdie springing up near the course are “all synergies for The Park.”

“The Park is 100% a draw,” said Brown Harris Stevens Realtor Sabra Kirkpatrick, who specializes in real estate in SoSo, or the South of Southern Boulevard, community. “It might not be the only reason, but it’s certainly another reason to buy in the south end.”

Alfond, who played golf at Brown University and has twin 9-year-old girls who also play, said there is a growing market for girl golf attire.

A 2023 report from the National Golf Foundation found the number of women and girls playing golf increased 15% since 2019, while the number of male golfers went up just 2% during the same time period.

Also, about 38% of all golfers 18 and younger are girls. The report says that’s a “dramatic” shift from 1986 when just 14% of golfers 18 and younger were girls.

“The increase in trials and interest can be attributed in part to the rise of off-course forms of golf, perhaps most notably golf entertainment as a fun, social and less intimidating introduction to hitting balls with a club,” the study notes.

The Tiger Woods-backed golf venue PopStroke, which combines mini-golf with bars, food and a play area, opened last year in Delray Beach with locations planned in West Palm Beach and Wellington. The company X-Golf America, which has golf simulators, food and a bar, says on its website that it’s opening a West Palm Beach location at 1900 Okeechobee Blvd. in the spot once occupied by Peter Glenn Ski and Sports.

Alfond said Marie Birdie was well received at the 2024 PGA of America merchandise show in January.

“I spoke with buyers from pro shops all over the country and how they want to grow their junior girls program,” Alfond said. “The messaging to girls is that this sport is for them when they see clothes that are for them.”

Kimberly Miller is a veteran journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Marie Birdie golf apparel brand to open store in West Palm Beach