FEATURED COVER STORY
Simply Chic Boutique S imply Chic Boutique is a Christian-based business
make: should she continue the business or go back to
located at 3330 Keith Street in Cleveland. They
nursing again?
offer clothing, footwear, jewelry, and accessories
After much prayer and many endless discussions,
for women of all ages! Simply Chic strives to carry something
Christel and her husband opened their first storefront
special and unique to fit every fashion need, offering clothing
in Cleveland in 2014, which was among only one other
in women’s sizes ranging from small to 3X.
specialty boutique at that time. They started small
Simply Chic is owned by Christel Hudgins. After
with no employees: just Christel working full time.
spending 12 years as a registered nurse, Christel turned to
God blessed her business, and with all of the love and
business in 2011, looking to create a boutique with
support from the community, they quickly outgrew
unique items but without the heavy price associated
their space and moved in 2015 to the current location
with most boutiques. After months of research, phone
on Keith Street.
calls, emails, and prayers, she started Simply Chic
Now in 2020, eight years later, Simply Chic
as an online-only business in 2012 while she and
employs three local college students: Kaleigh Hughes,
her husband were travel nursing. They settled back
Madison Bare, and Sophie McCosh. Christel continues
down in Cleveland in 2013 and decided to build their
to work at the store full time, though, because it gives
forever home. That left Christel with a big decision to
her the opportunity to interact with the people in the
26 // November 2020
