It seemed as if all of La Jolla attended Pierre Deux’s grand opening on June 17. The area’s elite filled the small venue for its two-hour event, consuming traditional French hors d’oeuvres and dessert platters, catching up with old friends and making significant purchases. Attendees were buzzing about the arrival of this national chain, many familiar with the company. With champagne glasses in hand, patrons perused the shelves filled with monogrammed pillows, soaps, glassware and framed pictures in the compact space. Signs showed support of La Jolla’s Las Patronas 64th annual Jewell Ball, to which a portion of the evening’s sales were donated. The event was co-hosted by San Diego Home and Garden Magazine. The event follows La Jolla’s soft opening on May 21 and marks the fourth West Coast location for the New York-based chain. The French country specialty shop is just one of several French retailers on Girard Street, an area known for its furniture stores. — Meaghan Clark