Something for everyone: Tiger Rae Boutique opens in Acorn Alley in Kent

Rachel Turner is ready to be her own boss.

A retail lifer, Turner opened Tiger Rae Boutique at 164 E Main St., Suite D in Kent's Acorn Alley utilizing her expertise working in various brand-name outlets.

"I worked at Coach — the purse store — and then I moved to Kate Spade, which is also a purse store," Turner said. She spent time working at Summit Mall in a boutique called Francesca's as well.

Tiger Rae Boutique, named by combining Turner's favorite animal and her nickname, primarily offers women's clothing but also offers bath and body products, handbags, gift items and jewelry all at affordable prices. Nothing in the store will be more than $44, according to Turner.

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Shopaholics can stop into Tiger Rae Boutique 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

'I want everybody to be able to find something in here'

Turner initially was drawn to the retail business by her love of talking to people. She enjoys finding out what people need and helping them find whatever they are seeking. It makes her day, she said, being able to see a customer satisfied, leaving happily with their purchase.

"I want everybody to be able to find something in here," Turner said. "We're carrying sizes from small to 3XL, so I really hope that'll bring more people in."

She's hoping her new business can fill a void in the city.

"In Kent, there is no store for clothing. There's nothing like this downtown. You'd have to go to a different city to find something to wear," Turner said. Until, of course, she officially opened her doors on Wednesday night.

Turner had some help from her friend Jared Abell, owner of Hippie Fox Rocks, a rock shop in Acorn Alley.

Abell said that Turner helped him get the rock shop underway, eventually picking up the occasional shift at Hippie Fox Rocks and selling crafts there. People would come in asking where they could buy clothes.

"I'm not the type to go opening a clothing store," Abell said. "So she said if I'd help out, she'd do it and here she is, quitting her corporate retail job to take this on."

'It brings more diversity into Acorn Alley'

On the big night, Turner was in the store surrounded by friends, family — direct and extended, and colleagues both old and new.

They milled through the store, examining the goods: bags of Himalayan salt soak blends, dresses, shirts, socks, soaps and purses.

Before climbing a step ladder to turn on Tiger Rae Boutique's neon colored "Open" sign, signifying the stores official opening, Turner made a brief champagne toast thanking all of her guests for attending.

After the brief ceremony, Turner spoke enthusiastically about having finally opened her own store after a year of planning.

"It's exciting and overwhelming," she said, "I can't believe it's happening."

Among the crowd was Jim Antal, the property manager for Acorn Alley.

"It's exciting," Antal said. "Definitely it's a niche with the Kent State student body, so we feel it's a great fit. It brings more diversity into Acorn Alley."

Also prowling the aisles was one of Turner's friend and former colleague, Jessica Fontana. Fontana and Turner worked together at Coach.

Fontana said it's wonderful seeing what Turner has built for herself.

"I've just really seen so much growth in her," Fontana said, "and it's really cool to see her style and her personality everywhere you look in the store."

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Tiger Rae Boutique opens in Kent Acorn Alley