Truesdell opens Red Shoe store at new location
Published 10:42 pm Monday, November 27, 2006
By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Business was very good for Meg Truesdell along Front Street.
Her store, Red Shoe Jewelry, was next door to Riverfront Cafe and across the street from Riverfront Park and all its festivals and crowds, and the two "anchors," as Truesdell called them, drew plenty of business. However, when the opportunity came to purchase a building in downtown Niles, Truesdell said she imagined a bigger and better Red Shoe.
"Part of the thinking of getting a clothing shop up here was creating an anchor on the block and an additional draw for my merchandise," she said.
On Friday, Truesdell unveiled the new Red Shoe Jewelry &Apparel with a grand opening at 216 E. Main St. in downtown Niles. The draw of the store, Truesdell said, is the new merchandise from about six different craftspeople.
Truesdell's original Red Shoe Jewelry opened on Front Street on Memorial Day of 2005. She admitted that, at first, she had no intention of growing beyond the tiny rented storefront at 207 N. Front St.
"I was so stunned at how busy I was down there," she said. "It has seemed like the [town has] had a plan for me."
The plan began to unfold in March, when she was approached about purchasing the building on Main Street, which also has a large, modern apartment on the second floor. Truesdell said she discussed the idea with her husband Steve Johnson; they got a revolving loan from the City of Niles and made the move in June.
The original idea, Truesdell said, was renting the storefront to someone willing to sell clothes while still housing Truesdell's jewelry.
"I knew I could not fill the shop by myself, my inventory's too small," she said.
When she could not find anyone to fill the role, Truesdell said she took the step herself. Red Shoe Jewelry &Apparel now features hand-made women's and baby clothing, scarves, purses and home decor.
The store needed work to accommodate the new merchandise, and Truesdell said she got help from her husband, parents, her employee Misty LaViolette and her husband Rob, and Ginny Tyler. The end result was freshly painted walls and a store nearly three times the size of what she started with in June.
"I had a lot of help from friends," she said.
Aside from a few craftspeople from Louisville, Ky., many of the people placing items in Truesdell's store are from Niles and the surrounding area.
"What I'd like to keep it as is regional designers," she said, adding she hopes to add more items from nearby craftspeople. "Mostly, I'd like it to wind into a one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories store for women and children."
Choosing Black Friday as an opening date was no coincidence, Truesdell admitted. She said last year, not expecting much business, she had a 20 percent off sale and was "slammed." The turnout this year was equally assuring, she added.
"It has been busy since we opened the doors at 8 [a.m.]," she said.