Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for your bestie’s birthday or you’re in the mood to treat yourself to a little something special, you’ll likely find it at Ozarks Bittersweet, located at 105 N. Jefferson Street, in St. James.
The mother-daughter owned boutique features a diverse inventory of clothing for women, along with some items for kids, plus women’s accessories like jewelry and purses. Sourcing the clothes from markets in Las Vegas, owner Nancy Hughes, and her daughter Polly, make sure the apparel differs from what you may find in other area shops. Ozarks Bittersweet offers customers a truly curated shopping experience, while the clothing and other inventory reflects that cozy, small town charm you expect to find in a locally-owned lifestyle boutique.
The clothing items range from casual wear that’s perfect for coffee with a friend or running errands, to dresses, tops, bottoms, and other pieces that could be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Additionally, there’s a selection of items to make your home cozy and beautiful, with everything from scented candles, decorative throw pillows, artificial flower arrangements, lighting, and more. There are also paper goods such as greeting cards and specialty books on a variety of subjects – from making drinks to gardening and more.
If you’re looking for something for the foodie in your life, or you need something to take to your next gathering, there’s also a selection of items like bottled sauces, vinegars, and olives, as well as dry baking mixes, nuts, and other snacks.
And, in addition to the unique finds, the boutique itself is a lovely retail space. Together with the artful displays throughout the store, there are numerous historical details inside the space that add to the beauty and overall aesthetic. The building is 125 years old and features lots of exposed brick and an arched entryway that’s indicative of the period when it was built.
Prior to opening the store, Nancy owned another boutique for over 40 years, also called Ozarks Bittersweet, but that store was located in Anchorage, Alaska, where Nancy lived for over 50 years. When she decided to relocate back to her hometown, she found the vacant space and felt it was the ideal spot to open another boutique and continue the name.
The 2,500-square-foot store has two rooms indoors, along with an adjacent patio space that features vintage garden decor and plants, seasonally. The store opened in two phases, with part of the space opening by selling Christmas decor last season, while the store in its current version opened in May. Nancy shares that in the short time since it’s opened, the community has embraced the business to the point that she’s thinking about expanding into the adjacent building.
“We’ll carry more clothing, because that’s our biggest seller,” she says of the possible expansion.
Other items she’s considering for the next phase will include jewelry, Turkish rugs, and greeting cards.
Ozarks Bittersweet is located at 105 N. Jefferson Street, in St. James. Learn more about the business by following it on Facebook or Instagram.
*As we head into the holiday season, I want to highlight more small businesses and I hope to write a Shop Small Holiday Gift Guide that will feature some of the small local shops and businesses that carry gifts (and experiences) for everyone on your holiday gift list. If you’re a small business and want to be considered in the guide, or if you know a great boutique I should include in the guide, fill out the Submit an Event or Story form and I’ll get back to you.
