Oconee County High Graduate Opens Boutique in Athens

By Athens Patch Editor Rebecca McCarthy

Alta Moda owner Lindsey McKinney, a 2001 graduate of Oconee County High School, had never worked in retail, never owned a women’s boutique.  She was a marketing supervisor for an insurance company. Regardless, she decided to follow her dream and open a small, select store filled with women’s clothes, shoes, scents and jewelry. She figured that buying for a business would slake her thirst for shopping. While that hasn't happened, she has had fun creating her retail space and stocking it. Her market is younger women, but customers of all ages have left with purchases.

Though she and Andree Terry of Andree’s Essential Soaps chatter and joke like long-time friends, they met only a few months ago, when they were each considering renting the same building in Five Points. They got on so well they decided to share a larger space than either could afford on her own. When the house at 688 South Milledge became available, they saw through the grime and grit just how great it could be.

After a few months of planning, working and designing, they moved in. The house looks lovely.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, they’re holding their grand opening. Terry has long given away a portion of her earnings to charity, and it's no different now. They are  planning to give 20% of their proceeds to St. Mary’s Foundation on Thursday; In Their Shoes and the Mary Allen Locher Foundation on Friday; and the Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia on Saturday.

Read the full story on Athens Patch.