Running a shop is in Lyndsey Marie’s blood. After her grandpa retired from the antique store he ran for 20 years in downtown Cuyahoga Falls, Marie teamed up with pal Whitney Milligan to take over the 1,800-square-foot space.
Jean & Lou opened in May and offers an array of mostly women’s clothes, some men’s clothes, home decor and gifts grouped by occasion.
They didn’t have to — or want to — change much. The beautifully worn hardwood floor is still intact, a cozy fireplace decorates a back wall and plenty of light pours in from windows overlooking the bustling Front Street.
“We wanted it to be a place where somebody could come in and get a cute gift and an outfit for whatever [event] they needed the gift for,” says Milligan.
This means shelves packed with engagement gifts such as champagne-scented candles ($18) from Firefly Home Candles.
Their collection even includes baby shower gifts such as Baby Lit picture books ($10-$13) that are interspersed among party-ready racks of fall floral dresses ($44) by Entro and denim button-front mini skirts ($38) by Wishlist Jeans.
Styles vary, with both owners’ aesthetics represented. “Whitney is a bit more Bohemian and has an Anthro vibe,” says Marie. “I tend to stock a little more athleisure with a bit more of an edge.”
But it’s easy to splash their style throughout the store. Both helmed their own boutiques: b.lovely in Akron and Urban Lace in Cuyahoga Falls.
But Jean & Lou isn’t just a boutique: They’ve also coined it a “collective,” thanks to their products from local artists, including industrial lamps by Whiskertin Lighting and a rack of vintage clothes curated by Tarnish Ltd.
“Everybody seems to find something that they love,” says Marie.
Item We Love:
Handmade by Ohio-based Daisy Mae Designs, the shop’s map pillows ($35 each) showcase area road maps of Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Canton, Lakewood and more. You can even get the entire state.
When You Go:
Jean & Lou, 2237 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-687-2341, facebook.com/hopjeanandlou
