Find Hidden Treasures at Cleo Boutique

Cleo Boutique has a tremendous location on the 12000 block of Harlem Avenue in Palos Heights. A spot in the retail center of the city means increased foot traffic and plenty of retail neighbors.

While the store may sit upon a heavily traveled street, once customers enter they are treated to selections that are a bit more off the beaten path.

“I try very hard to avoid merchandise that can be found at department stores or major retailers,” said Dawn Stiegal, the store's owner and merchandise buyer.

Stiegal said the store has a wide range of clothing styles, from “casual to cocktail to after five [o'clock]."

has been in operation since 1985 and opened its Palos Heights location 12 years ago. The store also has a location in La Grange and at one time operated in Oak Lawn.

Stiegal said like many local shops, her bread and butter is local, loyal customers, but the store attracts many new shoppers and also has out-of-state fans that drop in when they are in town.

When asked if the economic downturn curbed business, Stiegal said not to a noticeable degree.

“Really everything stayed the same,” she said. “I've done a little less buying and more listening to the customers when it comes to buying – but business has been good.”

In addition to selling stylish clothes for all hours of the day, Cleo also finds itself appealing to multi-generational tastes.

“We have families that come in – grandmothers, mothers and daughters and they all find something they like,” Stiegal said.

One of Stiegal's trusted employees, Philomine Cook, said that she often buys for herself, her mother and her daughter, reinforcing the notion that Cleo has something for everyone.

Cook, along with other employees also helps with much of the in-store design. Outfits are put together throughout the store separated mostly by color: pastels on one wall, blues on another, warm here, cooler there. Cook also said they change displays on an almost weekly basis, as more merchandise enters the store.

Cook says that customer service is of the highest importance  and customers are “always greeted when they walk in the door and treated very friendly.

“If customers don't want assistance when they walk in the door, we leave them alone,” she said. “But to many customers we are personal shoppers, they come in and try on one thing and we run around the store getting different items.”

Stiegal said she sees no drastic changes to the business in the future and that she plans to stay in the Palos-area.

“I know they are trying hard to get in more business but it's not a big walking area around here, people drive to get here,” she said.”But we also have customers who travel specifically to get to this store.”

Stiegal also said she has gradually taken further advantage of digital marketing tools such as an updated website and a Facebook page.

Cleo Boutique is at 12357 Harlem Avenue, next door to . The store is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday.