By STEVE CARTWRIGHT
Staff Writer Friday, April 06, 2007

On Saturday, a former comic book store known as Wallcrawler is reopening as ArchEnemys, a shop specializing in latex dresses, stiletto heels and racy lingerie. Young women, calling themselves Archangels, will model fashions in the windows of the renovated storefront at 182 Water St.

It's just a year since the closing of Spellbound across the street, a lingerie business that also used scantily-dressed models and attracted a flurry of media and other attention, including criticism that the display was too risqué.

ArchEnemys -- a pun on the arch in your foot -- doesn't use the word sexy in its advertising. But the wall posters of women in various poses and the fancy red, pink and black undergarments suggest that the merchandise is about looking sexually provocative.

"Augusta may not be ready, but we're ready," said Carrie LaChance, 21, co-owner of the business with husband Nate, and herself one of the Archangels. A poster of her wearing a black bikini and sprawled across the front of a yellow sports car hangs on the wall.

Nate LaChance, 37, is the photographer. He met his future wife when she agreed to model for him. "It's going to be quite a wild ride," he said, referring to their business venture.

Carrie LaChance, a Dover-Foxcroft native, said she attended cosmetology school and worked in a salon for nine months. "The life that I am living now is so much more exciting," she said. "Modeling is my true passion."

She uses her hairdressing skills to help other models.

"All of our models are highly trained," she said. "They're very professional, very classy." She said ArchEnemys isn't about pornography. "We're close to the edge, but we haven't crossed it. Once you do, you can never go back."

Her sister Archangels are Danielle McQuillan of Winthrop, Shayna Fergerson of Waterville and Brittany Prescott of Ellsworth. Models will not be nude, LaChance said.

"It's all about the clothes and the footwear," said LaChance, who was wearing a clingy black latex dress and very high heels. "It's not just about stuff to wear in the bedroom."

Peter Thompson, president and chief executive officer of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, said Thursday he hadn't heard about the return of live models to Water Street.

"I hope it's a business that presents itself in a manner that is going to be acceptable to people," he said, adding that if it attracts more people to shop downtown, that would be good news.

Carrie LaChance acknowledged that "people aren't really used to this sort of thing."

Nate LaChance, who grew up in Winslow, said the business is a dream for him after working as a landscaper, drywaller, disc jockey and bouncer.

Do family members like what he's doing? Mostly, he said. But his late father, ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran James LaChance, was skeptical for awhile. Eventually, Nate LaChance said, he showed his father the Web site, and the senior LaChance accepted what his son did for work.

A check on ArchEnemys Web site, where merchandise is for sale, shows several Playboy magazine-style poses, but no nudity.

There is a fashion show featuring latex dresses, which appear hot in both senses, starting at 8 p.m. Live photo shoots of models will take place in the on-site studio and the public is invited to watch and to meet the models, Carrie LaChance said.

Steve Cartwright -- 623-3811, Ext. 435

scartwright@centralmaine.com