New Business Opens Saturday In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — Detroit Avenue will soon have a new business along its corridors. Milo & Me, a boutique clothing store for women with a canine twist, will open its doors on Saturday. A grand opening event, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., will offer a 10 percent discount to customers.

Located at 18117 Detroit Avenue, not far from the Breadsmith, artisan bakery, the store will offer tasteful, fashion-forward clothing options, owner Jessica Smith told Patch. "It's a boutique for the fashionable woman and her pet," she said. "My mission is to provide products to both."

Don't expect the store to segregate its customers though. "I don’t want it to be half-pet products and half-products for women. I want it to be integrated," she said. "I am carrying a line of appeal that creates coordinating products for a woman and her dog."

That doesn't mean customers should expect cheesy matching outfits or over-the-top foo foo dresses for their dogs. Instead, if a customer buys a T-shirt or dress made of a certain material, with a certain design, they could then buy a matching, say, sweater for their pup.

During the grand opening, Smith will offer snacks to human and canine customers alike, and she'll also have giveaways to hand out.

If you're questioning the store's dog-friendly credentials, don't worry. One of Smith's three dogs, Milo, a Maltese, will be on-hand during the grand opening and will frequently appear in the shop. "He's my inspiration," Smith said.

Learn more about the grand opening event by clicking here.

Why Lakewood?

Smith chose to open her first store in Lakewood because it fits the demographic profile of her ideal customer, young, trendy, fashion-forward. It's also her home.

Originally from Maine, Smith went to Kent State University for fashion design before graduating in 2012. She's lived in Lakewood since 2013 and calls it home.

Opening a business was a no-brainer for the 27-year-old. She comes from a family of entrepreneurs. Her parents own a genearl store in Maine, where Smith grew up greeting the regulars and getting to know orders. Her brother is also opening his own business.

"It's terrifying and exciting to open a business," she said. "But I have my parents as a resource."

"It's in my blood," she said.

Photo from Jessica Smith, Milo & Me