Mudra Is a Little Gem in Plain Sight

The  is known to all. It's a shopping mecca, full of chic shops and the most popular brands. There are, however, very few fashion stores on the go-to strip that are independently owned and even fewer that are family-run.

One of those rare shops is . A little gem hiding in plain sight, you won't find the store on the east or west side of the street—it's right in the middle, in the small Market Pavilion building.

The shop is tiny but has no shortage of goodies, like one-of-a-kind pieces made by local designers, and stone and mineral necklaces. For the thrifty among us, there's even a $10-and-under bin.

But that's not the only place in the store where you'll find affordable items. Even though all the merchandise is original, it's also fairly priced: All the pieces Mudra offers are under $100.

Easy as it may be to overlook, Mudra's 20-year tenure on the promenade has made the small business a favorite among many locals. Owner Kay Miller, who has been in the clothing industry since 1973, started out in manufacturing and built her business from the bottom up.

"She has a good eye and knows what will be hot before anyone else does," said her daughter Jill, who helps her mom run Mudra.

Known for their impressive selection of dresses, Jill is confident about the faithfulness of Mudra's clients. "Most our customers come here looking for a dress, and they know that if they can't find it here, they won't find it anywhere," she said. "Our dresses are designed and made just for us. They are very unique."

And unique they are. But it's the whole store that is one-of-a-kind.

"We are not Forever21, we are not —and we don't want to be," she added.

Fantastic, I say—we have plenty of those. It's these "gem" boutiques that are such a rare but brilliant find.