A Little Bit Of Old Havana At The Mall

Walking into the Eddie Rodriguez store in Miami's Dadeland mall feels like stepping into 1950s Havana. That's because Cuban-born Rodriguez, a former president and creative director of Wilke-Rodriguez menswear, is tapping into the current craze for Latin-inspired fashion with a new lifestyle label produced in association with the Men's Wearhouse. His stores (there are six in the U.S.) sell casual clothing for men and women in their 30s and 40s and are designed to evoke pre-Castro Cuba, complete with carved wood and bamboo details, salsa music and free Cuban coffee. Customers can browse through a selection of Cuban-inspired home furnishings and accessories, including pillows, candles and books. "People are realizing this is nothing like what they have in their closet," says Rodriguez. "They're ready to add a little Tabasco to their wardrobe."