There seems to be a misperception that shopping in Decatur is expensive and only for the young and trendy. My husband is hardly the type of guy to get his clothes from a boutique. He dropped out of the corporate scene years ago because he didn’t want to spend his days in a coat and tie. Give him a pair of Royal Robbins shorts, a Columbia shirt and a pair of Merrells and he’s covered (literally) seven days a week, twelve months a year. Everything he needs can be found at Whit’s End in Decatur. Ok, when it gets really cold, he’ll add socks and a Columbia fleece but Whit’s End has this covered too. Yes, we can go to REI or Bass Pro to clothe him but Jeff and Greg will order anything that we need. And, trust me their prices are very competitive.
My 20 something daughters are picky shoppers but can always find the perfect dress at Boogaloo or Kaleidiscope. Sure, they have some pricey ones but there are plenty that cost less than the offerings at the mall. We can support Decatur and know that 10 other young women won’t be wearing the same dress. In fact, when my daughter was looking for a small purse for prom a few years back, we decided to try Decatur and found several good options at Mingei World Arts and at Boutique Karma. The one we ended up buying was probably half what we would have paid at the mall.
As for me, Squash Blossom and Boutique Karma are the best for the kind of casual wear I prefer. I like the fact that they’ll pull together entire outfits. Ask local real estate agent Emilie Markert, who as my mom would say always looks very “put together,” where she got her outfit and I’ll bet it came from Boutique Karma. So I encourage you to take the time to try shopping in Decatur. Don’t assume that prices are high because a shop is small. Take a day to discover the great retail options in Decatur, enjoy the friendly service while you save gas and support our local economy.
Thanks Lyn, as the owner of Whit’s End, I could not agree more! I can’t tell you how many folks have come in for the first time and told me how they avoided my shop thinking it was an expensive boutique, only to hear from a friend what a great local shop it is. We created this store FOR the local economy (which we live in too), as a comfortable place for men (and the women who may shop for them) to come and save time, fuel, and yes, money too. We give friendly customer service too, for free!
Shoppers can also get discounts at participating shops during Terrific Thursdays in November and December. Great time to do your holiday shopping as well as have fun.