8 North Fashion and Jewelry Boutique, nestled in the heart of Hillsdale’s downtown on Howell Street, may close within the year. Despite its popularity, customers now see a “for sale” sign in front of the boutique because owner Mindi Meyer hopes to move to Florida.
“I did list the building, so I might only be here for a couple more months,” Meyer said in August. “I’m moving largely for personal reasons — I would like to move to a larger community.”
Meyer continues to order clothes, though, because she can’t move until she sells the store.
“I might be here until Christmas,” Meyer said. “If someone makes me an offer I’ll go, but if not I’m here.”
The store caters to college students and the Hillsdale community with clothing and accessories from New York and Los Angeles.
“I want to give fashion at an affordable price, and it’s all new,” Meyer said. “I’m in New York quite a bit. When I sell, I’m definitely in the lower price range.”
Vern Wende ’14 affirmed 8 North’s college-friendly style and prices, saying she often shopped there while attending Hillsdale.
“I tried to go in every week at least once to see if there’s anything new,” Wende said. “My mom loves to go in there too because it’s just one of those places. 8 North has very classy clothes — I love their dresses, that’s what I usually get. I’ve used every single piece [I’ve bought there] so far.”
The little shop on 8 N. Howell St. was not always a boutique. Until three years ago, the boutique was a fine jewelry store called Meyer’s Diamond Center, owned and operated by the Meyer family.
“It was more high-end, fine jewelry,” Meyer said. “I didn’t care to be in the fine jewelry business anymore, and then the jewelry business was becoming very expensive, so I felt more comfortable going into the fashion line.”
Meyer transformed the store into a boutique in August 2011, and she enjoys consistent business throughout the summer.
In January 2013, Meyer created a Facebook page for 8 North to advertise sales, coupons, and deals. Since she joined Facebook, she’s seen an uptick in sales.
“People see stuff coming up [on Facebook], so then they’ll come in and get it,” Meyer said.
Wende, who regularly competes pageants, keeps up with the 8 North Facebook page and finds things that she can’t find anywhere else.
“It’s always neat because I have found only one other store ever that has some of the same brands. They’re all different brands that I’ve never actually heard of myself. I’m wearing two pieces for the Miss Ohio pageant that I bought from 8 North. One is Pink Owl, and that dress is one of my top favorites,” Wende said.
Even though the quality of 8 North fashion is first-rate, its prices are very reasonable for a college student, usually around thirty dollars.
“The prices are pretty good in comparison,” Wende said. “If you looked for these dresses elsewhere they’d be a lot more. Knowing that this store in Hillsdale has cool designs, in a small town like that — it’s a great way to ‘get away.’”