Some boutiques sell clothes. Others sell gifts. Sisters has spent more than a decade helping people celebrate life's biggest moments.
Whether they're shopping for a birthday, a new home, or a last-minute vacation outfit, customers know they'll leave with something meaningful—and a conversation to go with it.
That sense of connection is exactly what owner Meg Olenowski hoped to create.
"We wanted people to come in and feel like they were family and like they were at home—just like a real girl's girl kind of store," she said.
The story behind Sisters began long before the boutique opened its doors.
In 2000, Meg's mother, Kathy, purchased Surprises in Store, one of her favorite shops in downtown Denville. For years, she built the business into a beloved local destination. Then, in 2011, after a brief battle with cancer, she passed away, leaving Meg and her sister Cait with a difficult decision.
"We said, 'Let's run it for a couple months and we'll see how it goes,'" Meg recalled. "It was our first time working retail, and we instantly fell in love with it."
Not long afterward, they purchased the building next door and opened Sisters in 2013. The name honors both their relationship and Surprises in Store by preserving the familiar "SIS."
When the pandemic arrived, the two stores were combined into one, creating the Sisters that customers know today.
"We really wanted to be a place for everyone," Meg said. "You can always get a gift for any occasion or an outfit if you were in a pinch for date night."
Today, customers visit Sisters for everything from everyday outfits to thoughtful gifts for life's special moments.
Keeping those shelves stocked with fresh finds is no small task. As Sisters' primary buyer, Meg travels nationwide searching for brands that fit the store's style.
"Everybody really has input," she said. "Even our high school and college girls. If they see a cool brand, I want to know about it."
That collaboration helps Sisters appeal to shoppers of every generation, whether they're shopping for themselves or someone else.
"We really do strive for gifts for every occasion," Meg said. "Birthdays, retirement, a new home—we just love to celebrate people and make them feel good about themselves."
For Meg, the boutique has always been about more than retail.
Sisters partners with local makers and frequently collaborates with fellow downtown businesses. Meg credits Denville's business owners for creating an environment where everyone genuinely wants to see each other succeed.
"Community is huge," she said. "We're all happy to help each other out."
That spirit is best reflected in Pink Witches Night Out, the annual fundraiser Meg helped launch in 2012 after losing her mother to cancer and learning that another local family was facing the same diagnosis. This year's event will be held on October 16.
What began as a small fundraiser has grown into one of downtown Denville's signature traditions, raising approximately $85,000 last year alone.
"It's been amazing watching businesses and the community really make the event their own," Meg said. "The amount of money we've been able to raise and the amount of people we've been able to help is incredible."
After more than a decade, Meg says Sisters wouldn't be what it is today without longtime team members Jess Van Eck, Colleen Argintar, and Nancy Green, each of whom has been with the boutique for more than 12 years. Together, they've created exactly what Meg envisioned—a place where shopping feels personal, neighbors become friends, and everyone is treated like family.
Sisters is located at 23 Broadway in Denville.
"We wanted people to come in and feel like they were family."