VIVA ROMA: Mark Lee, chief executive officer of Gucci, said Tuesday the company is working on refurbishing the brand's historical store on Rome's Via Condotti — the company's second oldest, dating back to 1938. Gucci will unveil the store's new decor in February, marking the 70th anniversary of the brand's retail outpost in Rome, at the same time as the opening of a new Manhattan boutique. "Italy is our home market, and, despite the expansion around the world, it's one of our most important markets in Europe," said Lee on the sidelines of a conference organized in Milan by The Wall Street Journal Europe, the Italian Chamber of Fashion and Italian publishing house Class Editori. "And [creative director] Frida [Giannini] is from Rome," the ceo added. The boutique will expand by 2,000 square feet to a total of 10,400 square feet.