When Janel Thompson, Debby Walker and Ann Marie Toney opened Alley Boutique on June 9, they were the first of the downtown Loveland businesses to re-emerge after the 2017 fire. Debby and Janel were the original owners of mobile boutique Cincy Fashion Wheels; Ann Marie joined the business ahead of the re-opening.
Tucked into a former storage area adjacent to Montgomery Cyclery, Alley Boutique is a jewel box of affordable clothing, gifts and accessories. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, lending the wood-paneled room a feminine twinkle, and the ever-present laughter of the owners is infectious.
“Five years ago, Debby and I decided we wanted to open a female-owned, faith-based company ... and we looked at a couple different options. While we weren’t initially ready for a brick-and-mortar shop, I had noticed in my volunteer work (with CityLink through Crossroads Church) how getting clothes together for interviews really changed people’s demeanor.” –Janel Thompson
“I saw a commercial for Smith Trailers in Sharonville one night when I was watching HGTV. I went the next day, and we ended up buying a 6-by-12 landscaping trailer. We had electricity and a fitting room and could go anywhere and do shows. We met Gina DeBell at our first show and ended up renting from her for our first brick-and-mortar,” Debby explains.
When it comes to selecting merchandise, Debby and Janel often defer to Ann Marie’s skills as a “fashionista.” Her keen eye for items that will interest a variety of shoppers makes the store a favorite with younger as well as older women.
“Sometimes we’ll purchase what the customers have asked for ... but we also try to have a little something for everyone. Purses, soaps and scarves have a wide appeal,” Ann Marie says.
Alley Boutique
201 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland
513.254.3459, AlleyBoutique.com
