Happy Changes: Monday’s Child is Getting the Keys for 127 S. Fairfax Street
I was charmed by a quote I read back in January, one that of course I didn't save and won’t do justice trying to regurgitate. It was about being excited for the unknown, amazing things that will happen in the upcoming year – that you have no idea about.
Last year I had a hard time getting through a personal funk. In the middle of my blues, my best friend booked a trip of a lifetime to the South of France with some of my most favorite people on the planet. In January of 2023, I would have never dreamed I’d be on that trip, so, at the start of this year, I wholeheartedly embraced the excitement of not knowing what amazing opportunities might unfold.
Even with my optimistic and open mindset for 2024, I never imagined Monday’s Child would be moving into THE SHOE HIVE space this fall! And yes, as a local business owner, who considers her store her baby, this move is as exciting as that trip to France! We are moving into one of Old Town's most iconic storefronts and I couldn't be more thrilled about the enhanced shopping experience that awaits you in our beautiful, expanded space.
For the past few years, we've been bursting at the seams and I'm grateful to our customers for bearing with us in our cramped quarters. Someone recently described the store essentially as a stockroom, where you rely on staff to pull the right products for you, and they were right. We can’t wait to change that. As a baby store that hardly has enough room for strollers, we need more space.
The huge windows, the gorgeous interior, the enchanting courtyard and the proximity to King Street will all make shopping at Monday’s Child easier and so much more enjoyable. We are excited to continue to host your favorite events and be able to offer new ones. From silhouette sessions with Erik Johnson to heirloom photos with Renee C. Gage Photography, trunk shows and special First Communion experiences - everything will be better than before. Patty’s Picks is already planning his series of "PATTY-O" events on the patio, ™ pending.
I'm fiercely loyal and I love to brag that Monday’s Child has been in the same space in the Crilley Warehouse for nearly 45 years. My mom was buying me sailor dresses in the 80s in the very space where I now run the business. That is really special to me and only the perfect space would motivate me to move. When I purchased the store in 2018 (with only six months of retail experience as a teenager), the small, well-known space felt somewhat safe for me as a new and clueless boutique owner.
But we have grown like crazy and trying to not only fit all of our clothing in the store, but to merchandise it neatly has been a challenge. Many days it’s an outright exhausting battle. As the business flourished and we explored other locations over the past year, I always knew that when the time came, I would make the leap. I want to do what’s right for our loyal customers, and what a perfect leap it is to 127 South Fairfax Street!!
And I couldn’t ask for a better landlord. The Shoe Hive building is owned by Elizabeth Todd and I'm pinching myself that I get to hang a Monday’s Child sign there. From the moment I entered the Alexandria boutique community, Elizabeth not only welcomed me but also wanted to help me. She wanted my business to do well and she rooted for me and I’m forever grateful for that. When she gives advice, I take it. Her ability to bring people together and lift up the stores in Old Town is truly unparalleled. It felt serendipitous when I read her article about merging The Hive and The Shoe Hive last week, and how she moved into a larger space after six years in a tiny storefront. My sixth anniversary will be celebrated in October right after we move into the new space. It feels so meant to be. The Shoe Hive is the dream space I never realized I could dream about!
So, stay tuned for more details to come as we plan to open in the new location around Labor Day. My mission has always been, and will always be, to provide our customers with a special experience when they step through our doors. I have no doubt that this leap will allow me to do exactly that. One of the best compliments I’ve gotten from a friend and great customer is that Monday’s Child ‘is like a little museum of happiness.’ Well our little museum is more than doubling in size and about to become so much happier!
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