Clothing, shoes and accessories are the new threesome that give life to a previously abandoned building across the street from the Varsity Theatre. A University alumna opened a new boutique – Three – near campus in early August. And now she is putting her faith in word-of-mouth advertising. Jaimee Little said her new store is slowly gaining more recognition from students since its soft opening Aug. 3. She said she hopes sales will go up with University classes in session. Little said customers are primarily attracted to the shop because they are surprised to see something other than a vacant spot. “They are probably curious to see what has filled the void,” Little said. Christine Keller, store customer and mass communication senior, said the location adds to the uniqueness of the shop. “It is tiny, but they did a good job with the space provided,” Keller said. Whitney Little, University alumna, said people are finally catching onto her sister’s shop because it is easily accessible and has a familial meaning attached to it. “Once you explore, you realize it is something you can relate to,” Whitney Little said. Jaimee Little said her initial goal was to create a shop that represents the three various styles of her and her two sisters. She said she hopes to maintain her goal while gearing her products toward a college market. “I want to provide people with merchandise that is fun, cute and wearable without the outrageous prices,” Jaimee Little said. Keller said Three exudes variety from hippy-style dresses to more preppy fashions and game day attire. “It’s really cute, very trendy and pretty moderately priced,” Keller said. Jaimee Little said the beginning phase has been quite a challenge, and her main concern is tidying the setup, which she constantly rearranges. “This is like an ongoing deadline,” she said She also said she sometimes passes by the shop’s window off-duty to double-check the interior décor because she wants the shop to have the perfect, homey feel. “It’s nice to come across a store that has a personal touch,” Whitney Little said. The Littles said other shops in the area have been supportive. “Our neighbors have been phenomenal,” Jaimee Little said. “Some of the surrounding business owners call to check on how things are going.” They also said they hope to help bring the corner of Chimes Street and Highland Road back to its attractive foundation. “Everyone’s like a family over there,” Whitney Little said. “That makes it a unique area because we all really want it to be a better place.”
—-Contact Lindsay Gallmann at [email protected]