LAKEVIEW — When Megan Morrison was not sure of her choice to fall out of speech pathology college to go after her interest in vogue, it was her grandfather, Charlie Arie, who reassured her.

“I would discuss to him about it since I really did not know if it was the appropriate issue to do at the time, and he made use of to hug me in the driveway and say, ‘Don’t stress. You’ll have your own retailer sometime,’” Morrison explained.

Individuals dreams will occur true Saturday with the opening of Morrison’s initially boutique, Appreciate, Charlie, 3352 N. Paulina St. The retail store, named after Morrison’s grandfather, pays tribute to Arie, who died in 2009. There are pics of him placed all over the boutique.

“He and I had a genuinely unique romantic relationship, and although he’s no lengthier below, I imagine he’s viewing down and smiling to see me ultimately opening my own retail outlet,” Morrison mentioned. “I named the shop soon after him simply because I felt like this was his way of signing off to the aspiration.”

Credit history: Delivered
Enjoy, Charlie features a large choice of women’s attire and components at varying value points.

Morrison got her start off in the style marketplace 25 a long time back doing the job at a boutique in her hometown of Watseka, Illinois. She labored her way up by retail work right before landing the position of director of profits and merchandising at Chicago’s Henry & Belle Premium Denim.

Morrison will keep on performing at Henry & Belle even though controlling Love, Charlie, she said.

Love, Charlie specializes in women’s attire, equipment and gifts with costs ranging from extra economical to pricier products.

“I have sweaters that commence at $48 and cashmeres that go up to $248. I really don’t want anyone to stroll in and feel like they just cannot obtain some thing in this article,” Morrison said.

Morrison explained she preferred to develop a place for ladies wherever they can come to feel relaxed making an attempt on outfits and depart with a little something they come to feel joyful in.

“A large amount of women of all ages aren’t comfortable purchasing, and I want to make this an easy, satisfying knowledge for them,” Morrison claimed. “I’ve by now gotten a text from a client with the nicest information that said, ‘I have not been sensation excellent about my entire body currently, and every little thing I purchased in your retail store has set a smile on my deal with.’

“That’s what I want.”

For now, Appreciate, Charlie will be open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. The store’s several hours will be altered when Morrison receives a feeling of when folks would like to do their shopping, she claimed.

The store’s grand opening celebration begins 10 a.m. Saturday and will feature 15 per cent off all merchandise, as well as assorted bites and drinks for persons to enjoy.

Credit rating: Supplied
Appreciate, Charli specializes in women’s outfits, equipment and gifts.

Jake Wittich is a Report for America corps member covering Lakeview, Lincoln Park and LGBTQ communities across the metropolis for Block Club Chicago.

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By Amalia