By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A new western clothing boutique is set to open in March in downtown Plainville.
Bee Reif, owner, said Bluestem will carry men's, women's, children's and baby apparel, as well as accessories, shoes and housewares.
Sizes for women will range from XS to 2XL.
"We don't really have anything here in downtown Plainville," she said, "so it's going to be a little trial and error. I know a lot people are excited to just go shop."
Bluestem will be carrying the Rowdy Crowd Clothing line and is trying to become an outlet for Twisted X boots and shoes.
"What I'd really like to focus on is if someone comes here and sees something they love, and we don't have it in store, I'll make sure you get it," she said.
The housewares inventory will also reflect the shop's western theme. Reif already has tumblers, as well as western print cutting boards in stock.
Plainville is a small community, and Reif said she knows not everyone is going to want to own the same shirt or shoes.
"The inventory is going to change consistently," she said. "I don't want to have a place where people shop, and everybody buys the same thing. ... I might only carry five of one shirt line, and then I'll bring something else in."
Reif has worked in retail before, but this is her first venture as an owner.
The Bluestem building, 215 W. Mill, is one of three storefronts Reif and her husband have been renovating. Two doors to east, 213 W. Mill, is her husband's mortgage company, C2C Mortgage. The Reifs are remodeling the storefront directly to east of Bluestem into office space.
The building that will house the boutique was vacant before the Reifs began remodeling. Bee Reif said it has been sad to see the empty buildings in downtown Plainville, but she hopes the boutique will be a new draw for the community.
"It brings a business to downtown," Reif said of the boutique. "It also brings something that downtown Plainville doesn't have. ... I think it gives something for people to do when they're downtown. It brings people, money, everything into that community."
Reif has also been a part of the Save Downtown Plainville's Historical Buildings effort, which has raised money to stabilize 217 and 219 W. Mill, one of the oldest buildings in Plainville.
Remodeling efforts are still ongoing at Bluestem, but Reif said she hopes to open by mid-March. Hours at the shop will be 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
"I just hope everyone is as excited as we are to open the doors and have somewhere else to come and shop and be involved with the downtown things that happen in Plainville," she said.
You can follow Bluestem on Facebook. You can also call the business at 785-312-2038.
The store's website is under construction. Once it is completed, shoppers will be able to order from the website and have items shipped to them.