I was chatting with some folks at the Thaw show two weeks ago about all the shuttered businesses when one of them exclaimed, “And Isadora’s! Isadora’s is gone, too! I saw the ‘For lease’ sign in their window!”

Of course, Isadora’s isn’t closed—as we reported here, they’ve just moved down the block.

The lesson is this: Unfortunately, most of those lease and rent signs do mean what you think they mean, but not all of them do.

Another case in point: The signs (shown here) at Merge. Nope, Merge isn’t closing.

Patricia Wolfkill has had nearly 2,000 square feet of prime Fremont space to herself, but, well, things aren’t what they used to be, and a smaller space would better suit what they have become. Wolfkill’s landlord has agreed to build a wall down the middle of the store, splitting it in two.

The new tenant would have over 900 square feet, a back deck, three sets of French windows, and all the sunlight a day has to give. And, of course, a really great and super stylish neighbor.

What would work in this new spot? Just about anything, I suppose, although from what I understand, the landlord is not keen on anything restaurant-y. The block already has a great bookstore, a gorgeous French-feeling bath and body shop, and a bikini boutique … could it stand…

an art gallery aimed at spotlighting the work of emerging media?
-a men’s shoe shop for guys who favor wingtips over slip-ons?
-a travel agent who specializes in earth-friendly resorts, green hotels, and low carbon emission travel?
-a product emporium for people who like to clean and spruce without wearing gas masks?
-a world-sourced naturopathic apothecary-slashmassage boutique?
-a locally sourced organic, health-minded grocer?

Who knows, but I predict that we’ll see more creative uses of space as the retail landscape continues to reinvent itself. Interested parties should stop by or call Merge and start discussing the possibilities.