A Cherokee High School graduate who is also a current NWOSU student, Nicole Unruh, is opening a ladies clothing store in Alva across the street east of NWOSU in a location formerly used as a massage parlor. The official address is 1016 College, Suite A.
Immediately after graduating from Cherokee High School in 2015, Unruh signed on to play college basketball for Hesston College in Kansas. She blew out her ankle during the second game of the season. She finished the year there and then moved to Alva in May 2016.
Initially, she started out as a physical therapist major, as one of her passions in life is helping people. Then she figured out that providing lower cost stylish clothing is another way of helping people who are on a tight budget.
"As I've attended college, I observe students not being able to afford both nice clothes and groceries to eat. A lot of stores simply aren't affordable for college students."
At the start, she expects to have an inventory that ranges from high school girls to women in their 50s. Next, she hopes to add children's clothes and eventually men's clothes.
"Traveling to a big city to find affordable clothes eats up fuel and time and also increases the costs for young people," she said.
She plans to open her store on Jan. 13 at 9 a.m. Her days and hours of operation will be 12 to 7 p.m., Monday–Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Unruh said she spent about a month and one-half thinking of a business name and settled on "Brave & Beauty." When asked to explain that name, she said, "I want every girl to feel brave in her own skin, and every girl deserves to be beautiful. Some are so shy because they've never felt beautiful. I want them to feel comfortable no matter their economic status or if they feel like they're not part of the in-crowd.""
She said she has four years of retail experience and believes she has the right taste in choosing her inventory. Brave & Beauty will accept credit/debit cards, checks and cash.
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