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Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-state area. In addition to this development from Platteville, Wis., we will share other news in Tuesday’s edition.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — A Platteville bridal shop is celebrating 50 years in business.
Bridal Boutique, 40 E. Main St., has been a part of the Platteville community since 1973. Now under its third set of owners, the store offers wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, sparkling accessories and more.
“We were talking it through the other day with the past owners, and we figured this store has probably helped tens of thousands of brides,” said boutique co-owner Tomi Gill. “We’re a small part of a big day, but it’s enough interaction to have an impact on the bride and us.”
The boutique first opened in the Platteville home of its initial owners, Judy and Bryan Walthers, before later moving to the Main Street storefront it has filled for decades. It then was purchased by Margy Spensley and Ann Kettler in 1985.
Spensley and Kettler made the decision to expand the business, said co-owner Hayley Mokros, and began to offer formalwear options for mothers of the bride, as well as dresses for school dances such as prom or homecoming.
“That was huge for the store,” Mokros said. “It really expanded what we were able to offer here in the store and the types of customers we’re able to reach.”
Gill purchased a portion of the business from Kettler in 2010, and Mokros purchased the other from Spensley in 2019. Both previously had worked in the store as sales associates.
In 2020, the pair began a complete renovation of the store’s interior with a focus on improving customer experience.
They added a bridal suite for dedicated bridal appointments and repainted the entire space. To honor the building’s historic charm, they exposed some of the structure’s older features, including its antique windows and a decorative ceiling.
When brides book their visit, they now also can choose from different appointment options for added amenities such as snacks, a customized playlist or a container of confetti to pop when they find the perfect gown.
“People can buy dresses anywhere now, so the focus has really become the experience of it all,” Mokros said. “We really tried to create a space that will be special and memorable for our customers.”
The boutique is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. More information about the store and how to book an appointment can be found online at bridalboutiquewi.com.