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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Boardwalk offers unique apparel

Recently opened boutique has clothing from casual to dressy styles

Jacob Livingston Correspondent

Through Rachel Stippich’s eyes, there’s nothing like an outfit that fits just right.

That’s why Stippich has made it her business to match every woman who comes through the door to her new boutique, The Boardwalk at Riverstone, with unique apparel for any occasion. Since a mid-August opening across from Bardenay, which overlooks the Riverstone Lake, the store has offered women ages 25 and up an assortment of fashion and accessories. With clothing lines for everything from casual to cocktail parties, Stippich and employee Jan Smith have brought fashion to the Lake City’s forefront.

“In Coeur d’Alene, we want to carry clothes that women can wear every day that fit any occasion,” said Stippich, a former accountant who decided to leave the auditing world for retail apparel. “We buy a little different” than bigger stores, she added. “We’re trying to keep the lines we buy exclusive to this area … That’s the advantage of being a boutique; you don’t have to carry one brand; you can pick and choose what you like.”

The store’s items are a mix of smaller vendor lines, including belts, handbags and jewelry, which the owner finds at conventions. Some of the more popular manufacturers are Cartise, Citron and Sympli, the makers of travel wear that doesn’t wrinkle. Since no vendors are alike and almost everything is sold to small-business owners, what is offered at The Boardwalk is certain to be exclusive to the North Idaho audience.

“There’s always been a shopping void here for women over the age of 40. It has pizzazz, it’s fashion-forward,” proclaimed one shopper, who described herself as a “very satisfied customer” who wished to remain anonymous. “It has things that are very new, and not only seasonal but fashionable – a lot of options to match any taste.”

That lack of buying options for locals was one of the reasons that inspired Stippich to open her own business. As she watched the growth at The Village at Riverstone, she said the timing finally felt right.

“When they started developing Riverstone we decided it was the right fit for our customers,” she said. “I expect when the center is full (of vendors), we will draw traffic in from Liberty Lake and the surrounding area. And I think we should capture some of the Coeur d’Alene shoppers, too, so they don’t have to go to Spokane. That’s the whole point to the center is to offer something that hasn’t been offered before.”

While Stippich said she’s always had a love for fashion, that’s a trait that seems to run in the family. Her mom, Anne Bonar, has owned and operated Boardwalk Boutique in Bonners Ferry since 1982. The two even launched their own clothing line together, called Champaign Taste, which was sold throughout the West.

“My mom has owned that store for 26 years,” she offered. “We each have an extensive background in fit and we both sew, so we know how clothes should fit.”

Both businesses are known for helping customers find personal-touch attire, Stippich said, for residents of North Idaho or those traveling around the world. “I think we offer exceptional value for the clothing we offer,” she said.

Smith added, “There is quite a range, from casual to dress. It’s versatile; you may have two to three pieces but you can get up to 12 outfits.”

Customer Charyl Stornetta has stopped by several times since The Boardwalk opened. The attention to personal tastes and finding unique items has kept her coming back. “I thought it was something we needed in the area. I just liked (Stippich’s) style, its fashion versus trendy,” she said, offering as one of her favorite finds a washable, burgundy suede jacket. “Once people find it, I think there are a lot of women who want that type of thing.”

With limited advertising, The Boardwalk so far has relied on customers telling friends about the business. “Word-of-mouth seems to be working very well, so it’s been a real treat for them and they bring friends back. We’ve seen a lot of that and we’re excited about that,” Stippich said.

Reach correspondent Jacob Livingston by e-mail at jackliverpoole@yahoo.com.