Children’s retail shop changes hands

A Queen City children’s retail business that originated as an e-commerce venture before opening a brick-and-mortar shop in 2023 has a new owner at the helm.

Brittany Cathcart took over ownership of Dean’s Boytique on Jan. 24 after purchasing it from founder Shelby Bolin for undisclosed terms. Blaire Chrouser of the Kingsley Group facilitated the transaction for the boutique, which is at 2776 S. Campbell Ave., Ste. B, in the Village Shopping Center.

While she will receive assistance from her husband, Darron, Cathcart said she currently plans to be the lone employee at the shop, which sells a variety of boys’ clothing, shoes and accessories for ages ranging newborn to 7 years old. It also has a women’s clothing section targeting mothers.

“We’re going to expand into youth clothing, and we’re going to open a dad shop along with the mom shop,” she said, noting the youth products will cover ages 8-14. “We’re also going to expand on our embroideries and custom prints.”

Bolin started Dean’s Boytique in 2020, originally selling boys clothing out of her home after her son, Dean, was born, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. She then expanded the business by opening the Campbell Avenue shop in September 2023.

Noting she and her husband have family in the Springfield area, Cathcart said the couple are commuting each week to the shop from their home in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

The long-term presence of Dean’s Boytique in Springfield is still to be determined, she said.

“It’ll be there at least until July,” Cathcart said, adding she took over Bolin’s two-year lease with Magers Management Co. LLC. “Depending on how it goes, then we’ll either keep that open or we’ll move it to northwest Arkansas.”

It’s a first-time business ownership venture for Cathcart, who’s been a stay-at-home mom for the past year following the birth of her son, Dawson. Previously working as a dental hygienist, Cathcart said she was an online shopper of the boutique and became aware of Bolin’s desire to sell the business.

“It kind of wasn’t really in our price range. But she did a decrease on her price,” Cathcart said, adding she currently plans to maintain the store’s name. “We were like, ‘Yeah, this is probably something we can do.’ And I've been looking for something else to do, and being a stay-at-home mom right now, it just kind of worked out perfect.”