Tutu Posh Boutique Owner Enjoying Store's Upgrade in Size

owner Stephanie Hebron recalled a time when a middle-aged woman in a wheelchair wasn’t able to get into her store because she didn’t have a ramp leading up to the entrance.

“She sat outside and asked me to show her some things, and I went inside and brought it back out to show her,” Hebron said. “She ended up buying something.”

She didn’t get to see the inside of the store, however. She didn’t get the full effect of the wall-to-wall homemade tutus or the party room for children, but that won’t happen anymore.

Not only does Hebron’s new location have a ramp, but it’s much bigger, allowing for more merchandise and a bigger party room.

“I have a lot more dresses, more clothes and more accessories,” said Hebron, who said she also wanted to add more items for boys, such as boutique clothes.

And she didn’t have to go very far at all to move.

Tutu Posh Boutique is still located on the Village Greene side of , but it now occupies the space that once played home to I, straight across from her previous location, which now houses

It has two floors, and the second floor is suitable for a party accommodating 24 girls.

“There’s more to move around now,” Hebron said. “My traffic is doubled. People can see me now. I’m out there now.”

Hebron now has display windows, a restroom, and a ramp leading to the front door.

“I love my display windows,” Hebron said. “I can do different things now for all the different seasons.”

Her previous store had no windows, and was just one floor. When she moved in to the location two years ago, she and her husband of six years, Tim Myers, were content with the structure, but that didn’t last.

“I never thought I could outgrow something so quick,” Hebron said. “And when it was happening, I couldn’t believe it.”

Although she loved being in Smithville and her customers wanted her to be able to stay, that didn’t initially appear to be an option.

“I was looking,” Hebron said. “I love Smithville, and I knew my customers would be upset. I was told my store fits here and I made good friends here.”

One of those friends was Ireland and Old Lace owner , who was closing her store and going into veterinary training.

“Kelly said to me, ‘Why don’t you just take my store?’” Hebron said. “My friends told me I should go for it, so I did.”

They moved into the new store on April 1, and while Myers was painting downstairs and moving things between stores, Hebron was hosting a party for more than 15 girls upstairs. The soft opening was April 6.

Even though many of her customers knew she was moving, there were still a few who would go to the old location and would become worried before the Fairy Glen owners directed them to the new store.

Coleman allowed Hebron and Myers to prepare the upstairs while Ireland and Old Lace was still open.

“She cleaned out her upstairs and moved everything down here about two weeks before we opened so we could work on the upstairs,” Hebron said. “That helped tremendously and we’re grateful for that.’

It’s been a month and a half since Hebron moved, but the true measure of what impact the move will have comes next weekend, May 19-20, when the annual MayFest returns to Smithville.

“I’m happy here. There’s a good energy in here,” Hebron said. “I love that it’s bigger. Now people can come in with their strollers and be able to walk around.”

Now, everyone can fully experience the ambience of Tutu Posh Boutique.