Best-dressed ladies will soon have another place to pick up new threads in Ann Arbor. On April 23, Johnny, a new women's fashion and accessories boutique, will be opening just across the hall from its sister store,
Wendy, in Nickel's Arcade. The stores are co-owned by their namesakes, Johnny Vaughn and Wendy Chapman.
Coming off Wendy's successful first year in operation, the partners will be devoting about 90% of the new 300-square-foot space to their best-selling line, Comfy U.S.A. Accessories will fill the remainder. The 500-square-foot Wendy, the only boutique in Ann Arbor to carry Eileen Fisher and the only one in Michigan to carry the Barbour line of coats, will continue mixing up its styles.
"It gives all kinds of options to expand lines, carry local [designers], bring in high-end stuff, whatever we want to do," says co-owner Johnny Vaughn.
Wendy currently has five employees. The new space will bring that total up to eight between both shops. Online sales will also begin within 60 days, Vaughn says.
When Nickels Arcade, which dates from 1918, first opened, "that was where all the special high-end boutiques in Ann Arbor were," Vaughn says. "This was where the shopping happened and so now trying to reclaim that history is important as well."
Could the arcade once again become Ann Arbor's Fifth Avenue?
Vaughn laughs, "We can dream. One day, one day!"
Source: Johnny Vaughn, co-owner, Wendy and Johnny boutiques
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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