March 28, 2024

The Purple Gardenia Boutique open at Hunter Mansion

Back in the business, the Purple Gardenia Boutique has unique gifts available in a special location. Housed in the Hunter Mansion, 223 W. Fourth St. S., the boutique has one-of-a-kind items that owners Susan Grigsby and Nancy Engozzi picked out especially for the shop.

“Susan and I are the original owners of Shay’s Tea Room & Gifts which was in the Hunter Mansion. Although neither of us cooked or drank tea very often, we wanted to have a business that brought some fun to Newton at a time when it was struggling,” Engozzi said.

While operating the tea room and gift shop, the two found their favorite part of the business by far was the gift shop. After saying goodbye to the business several years later, the two were more than excited to get back in the business when new owner of the Hunter Mansion, Megan Pryke, called for some advice.

“When Megan called and asked for advice on running the gift shops, we decided it was a good time for us to get back into the business, and Megan agreed,” Engozzi said. “Susan and I love shopping, decorating, and talking to the customers, so it is a perfect business for us. It seems in just the few days we’ve been open, that our previous customers are very glad we are back and so are we.”

The boutique opened last week and will have hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday. With the motto “We sell what we love” the two spend hours shopping for the perfect items in locations as far away as California.

“We are able to sell things at very reasonable prices because we do a lot of our shopping in the garment district in LA, eliminating the middle vendor costs and a lot of the shipping costs. As I work in California one week a month, and I’m able to bring a lot of items back in my suitcases,” Engozzi said. “We also buy items at the Orange County Market Place in California and at smaller boutiques that also will sell wholesale. We also buy from other cash and carry vendors in nearby states.”

Purses, scarves, ladies’ apparel, a wide assortment of jewelry and some giftware are available in the boutique. Typically, they will only carry just one or two of any item Engozzi said, so if a guest sees something they love, they should grab it right away because it may not be there at the next visit.

The boutique will also have a room full of “slightly used” and sale items in the coming weeks.