The sisters-in-law opened their contemporary women's clothing boutique on March 4 in the Garden Theater building. The store sells casual clothing, with a few dressy items, along with shoes, belts, handbags and jewelry.

"We feel like we have something for everyone," Morris said, as she made her way around the store pointing out jeans and a flirty top. "Someone can come in and buy something nice and not break the bank."

For Morris and Malvini, the opening of Bella James is a dream realized. Both spent many years working in retail and fashion. In fact, the two women met while working at Nordstrom in Westfield Valley Fair.

Malvini is a first generation Greek-American who grew up in Willow Glen. Her mother, Harriet, has worked at John's Xlnt Foods for more than a decade. Her father, James Morris, previously ran three retail stores in Santa Cruz County.

Like her father, Malvini began working in retail at 14, eventually going to work at Nordstrom, where she became a buyer. As a buyer for eight years, she traveled, selected merchandise and managed a budget.

When Malvini met Morris in the late 1980s, Morris was also a Nordstrom buyer who moved to the Bay Area from Southern California. The two became friends and Malvini introduced Morris to her brother Ted. The two later married, making the women sisters-in-law.

Malvini's husband, Mike Malvini, owns Willow Glen's Malvini Tile Co. After she had her first child, Isabella, Malvini quit her job to focus on raising her family. Morris had a son, Dimitri, Greek for "James," and opted for a career as a job recruiter because she wanted a more stable work schedule.

But fashion remained on the minds of both women. Two years ago, Malvini started a T-shirt company, Tixi. Then last summer, Morris noticed several empty Lincoln Avenue storefronts and began to think seriously about opening a store.

Plans were still tentative, but a chance meeting convinced the women to make Bella James a reality. Garden Theater owner Michael Mulcahy approached Malvini about her husband's tile business. During the meeting, Mulcahy learned about Malvini's T-shirt line and recommended starting a Tixi store in the Garden Theater. The women, however, had broader plans.

Morris admits they were hesitant at first, knowing past businesses in the Garden Theater have failed. But they were encouraged by Mulcahy's renovations and having the high traffic that accompanies the new Starbucks coffeehouse opening next door.

They chose the store's name in honor of their family: "Bella" for Malvini's oldest, 6-year-old Isabella, and "James" after Malvini's father and Morris' son.

"Now we're feeling good about coming in here, with the history of the Garden Theater and the location right on Lincoln Avenue," Morris said. "I think this is really going to be a revival of the Garden."

The pair is also glad they've opened the business in their hometown neighborhood.

"We live here; we want to give back here," Malvini said.

Bella James is located at 1165 Lincoln Ave., Suite 140. The store is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit bellajames.com or call 408.292.0000.