Anyone who travels Highway 16 has probably noticed Boutique Station at the curve near Peterson. Hot pink columns highlight the former gas station that boasts “BOUTIQUE” in huge metal letters; a nearby custom painted Winnebago with a pink leopard design can’t be missed.
Amy Engelhart started Boutique Station in the foreclosed gas station that her father-in-law had purchased as an investment just over five years ago. Amy’s dream job was to be a personal shopper. Her father-in-law loaned her $10,000; Amy and her father spent six months remodeling the building. Amy treasures the six months that she and her dad spent together working to create Boutique Station using repurposed items.
At the end of the six months, Amy headed to Las Vegas to attend her first market to purchase spring stock for her store. Nervously, she selected items that she herself would buy and hoped they would sell.
Everything was set for the store to open in March 2020 until COVID hit. Before she could even open, COVID shut her down. Boutique Station was finally able to open May 15, 2020. People were wanting to get out of their homes and were ready to shop. The new local boutique offered the perfect shopping experience. In that successful first year, Amy was able to pay back the loan from her father-in-law.
Boutique Station carries “tons” of jeans, leggings, tops and dresses. People often mistakenly think that a boutique will not carry larger sizes; Amy carries clothes from XS to 4X to fit all sizes. Additionally, the boutique offers jewelry, perfume, belts, shoes, soaps, tallow products, books by local authors and Boutique Station’s own makeup line.
According to Amy, the style of the boutique is “on the conservative side of trendy. We don’t do crazy, but get pieces that you’ll wear for a few years – trendy, but classy!” Her best sellers are jeans which range in sizes from 0-24 and are the “brands that everyone wants.”
Amy most enjoys meeting new people every day at the boutique; she appreciates her staff and customers. The boutique is consistently open seven days a week, closing only for major holidays.
A small percentage of customers are local; Amy pointed out that Hwy. 16 is a very touristy road; people stop in to explore the unique building; campers return yearly.
Amy only carries one or two of an item in the same size and rarely reorders items. New items arrive daily at the shop. As a result, her customers won’t see themselves coming and going in the same outfits. When Amy adds items to the store, she researches and tries to choose brands that give back. On Wednesday nights, the staff goes live on Facebook to share new merchandise.
At Christmastime, the boutique holds a men’s night the week before Christmas. Amy serves beer and nachos; wish lists from the wives are available so Amy can suggest the perfect gifts. Men leave that night with wrapped gifts for their wives.
To celebrate Boutique Station’s fifth anniversary, the boutique will hold a fashion show on Saturday, May 17 at 10 a.m., complete with a runway and 24 mother-daughter customer models. The event will be held in a tent; the 65 seats are already reserved, but Amy encourages people to bring their own chairs and join the celebration! Swag bags have been prepared for the 65 reserved attendees; everyone will leave with a prize as well. “Everybody leaves here and we’re friends!” Amy declared. She’s looking forward to celebrating the fifth anniversary of Boutique Station with old and new friends!
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