She Signed a Lease in 24 Hours and Built a Boutique from Scratch
The space at 452 Franklin St. wasn't even on Sabrina's radar. She already had a business in Havre de Grace. She wasn't looking. But she walked past, saw the storefront windows, and something clicked. She ran next door into Blue Heron Gifts & Boutique, asked for the landlord's number, toured the space that same day, and said yes. The whole thing took less than 24 hours.
A Name with Heart: Who Are Marie and Rae?
Three Years In: Building a Playbook by Doing It
Marie + Rae Boutique is now going into its third year on Franklin Street, carrying women's clothing, accessories, and jewelry. The mix runs from trendy to timeless to what Sabrina describes as a few "over the top" pieces once in a while. The shop is roughly 750 square feet, which means every inch has to count, and the two most common things customers say when they walk in are that the prices are more affordable than they expected and that the space looks great. In a small footprint, both of those things take real effort.
What Sabrina didn't have when she started was a playbook. "I had no idea what I was doing," she says. "Had to learn as I went along." She's not saying that for effect. She means it. Three years in, growing every year, she's figured it out by doing it. One moment she keeps coming back to: a customer contacted a clothing manufacturer looking for a specific blouse, and the manufacturer sent her to Marie + Rae. That kind of thing doesn't happen by accident.
The Barbour Difference & Personal Styling
One detail worth knowing: Marie + Rae is the only boutique in Harford County that carries Barbour clothing and footwear. If you're not familiar with the brand, ask. If you are, you already know why that matters. Either way, Sabrina and her team love styling customers. Walk in with a vague idea of what you need and they'll help you narrow it down. If they don't have it, they'll point you to another downtown Havre de Grace shop that might.
Community Anchors: Co-hosting Franklin Street Events
Sabrina and her neighbor Megan from Blue Heron Gifts & Boutique co-host a string of community events on Franklin Street, including the Mother's Day Market, Fall Fest, and Merry Marketplace. The Mother's Day Market is their favorite and kicks off the event season each year. This year it's this Saturday, May 9th.
Visit Marie + Rae Boutique
Marie + Rae Boutique is located at 452 Franklin St., Havre de Grace, MD. Open Thursday and Friday 11 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 11 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 4 PM. Email [email protected] or visit marieandraeboutique.com. Find them on Facebook at Marie + Rae Boutique and on Instagram at @marie_and_rae_boutique. Look for their listing on the ShopHDG directory.
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