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Hinsdale merchant names Amazing Gracie’s after her daughter
Alison McNamara straightens children's cloths Friday, July 6, 2012 at Amazing Gracies, a children's clothing Boutique in Hinsdale. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
ON THE CLOCK
Amazing Gracie’s Children’s Clothing Boutique
777 N. York Road, Hinsdale, Ill
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday
10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Sunday
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Updated: September 10, 2012 1:59AM
HINSDALE — Seventeen years ago, Kelly Ransom, then a single mother of three boys, decided to follow her dreams and opened her first store in downtown Barrington. After the birth of her daughter, Gracie, Ransom changed the stores name from Jump Street to Amazing Gracie’s.
She eventually opened a second store in South Barrington, but moved it to Hinsdale this past May.
“Hinsdale is a great location,” said Alison McNamara, manager of the store in Gateway Square. “People really appreciate that we have unique clothing. Most of the merchandise that we sell is made in the USA. A lot of our accessories are made locally by moms who have started their own businesses.”
Ransom wanted to open a store with clothes that made children feel good about themselves. Amazing Gracie’s is a children’s boutique for girls and boys that provides unique, colorful, and comfortable clothing.
“At Amazing Gracie’s you get what you pay for. Customers buy clothes for their oldest daughter and pass it down to their younger daughters,” McNamara said. “Kelly believes that if children feel good about themselves they will have more self esteem and be more confident and able to express themselves.”
Children are encouraged to explore the shop and to pick out what they love.
Amazing Gracie’s has a bit of everything, since they order clothes from many different companies.
“Our clothes have great quality, they don’t fall apart, if there is an issue with the company we resolve it,” McNamara said.
The store carries many brand names, such as Barefoot Dreams, Bon Bon, Charlie Rocket, Indygo, Little Giraffe, Ooh La La Couture and Biscotti. The prices are described as boutique prices and range $40 and up for an outfit. Girl sizes are newborn to size 16, and boys sizes are newborn to 10-12.
“People can find what they are looking for. If they are looking for something frilly and over the top, we have it. If they are looking for something classic, we have that too,” McNamara said.
Customers appear to agree.
“My daughter’s eyes light up when we walk into the store. It is also so sweet that the store is decorated with pictures of Gracie on the walls,” said customer Jennifer Burlin.
Beside clothes, Amazing Gracie’s sells accessories, party hats, Trumpette socks and Little Giraffe blankets.
“We are trying to spread the word about our new store location,” McNamara said.
Amazing Gracie’s will be participating in the annual Hinsdale merchant sidewalk sale from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. on July 13 and 14.
