Family opens three businesses in former MP bank building

Mt. Pleasant?s First National Bank building, 101 S. Jefferson, is now home to a family business.

Ah, make that family businesses. The Alden family of rural New London will eventually have three separate businesses, all owned by family members, in the building which is on the National Historic Registry.

?The girls (daughters Megan Alden and Michala Lemley) have been talking about being in the same building for three or four years and now it has happened,? noted Sherilyn Alden. ?I really think the three businesses will play off each other.?

Michala opened the ?Style Vault? May 3, Megan?s ?Le Chic Boutique? opened May 23 and Sherilyn?s ?Soul Expressions? will move southward a few doors this summer, occupying the top floor of the bank building.

Megan brings eight years of styling experience to the Style Vault. In addition to haircuts for men, women and children, the business also offers hair coloring, permanents, body waxing, tanning, spray tans, manicures and pedicures.

She worked the past six years in New London and in Burlington for two years prior to that.

?I always wanted my own shop and felt this was the right time to do it,? she said.

Alden employs one stylist in addition to herself and plans to add another stylist this summer with further expansion dependent upon demand.

The Style Vault has no set hours. Appointments may be made by calling 319-931-2887 and walk-ins also are accepted.

Six-and-one-half years of working at Maurice?s in Burlington gave Michala the ?bug? to own her own apparel business.

?I found that I loved clothing and the visual side of clothing,? she said. ?When the opportunity came up with the building, everything kind of fell into place.?

Lemley describes her business as one featuring ?unique items that you can?t find other places.?

In addition to a complete clothing line for children (to size 8), juniors and women, Le Chic Boutique also has a plus-size clothing line, jewelry, purses and baby accessories.

Asked why the Boutique only offers clothing for females, Lemley said, ?I don?t believe men shop.? However, she quickly added that the addition of men?s clothing in the future is possible.

?Maurice?s used to carry men?s clothing, but they switched to (women?s) plus sizes. When a major business does that, it makes you think twice about carrying men?s clothing.?

She said her apparel is in all price ranges ? economical to upscale.

Lemley has five part-time employees in addition to herself.

Le Chic Boutique is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Le Chic also will be open Memorial Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone number for the business is 319-385-9896.