Claudia?s

Owner: Claudia Richardson

Address: 309-B West Dickson St., Fayetteville 72701

Telephone: 444-6543

Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday

Start-Up: May 9

As business on Fayetteville’s Dickson Street continues to boom, Claudia’s owner plan on creating the strips only “unique boutique.”

Claudia Richardson says her boutique in Little Rock has done extremely well and that its success, along with her desire to come back to Northwest Arkansas and to take part in the Dickson Street revivial prompted the opening on the Fayetteville store.

“I could have been on or off the square [in downtown Fayetteville]. But I like the Dickson Street environment,” Richardson says. “It’s gone so upscale and I think a lot has to do with the [Walton] Arts Center.”

Claudia’s focuses on affordable, unique apparel for women and “not a lot of professional suits.” Richardson says she goes to the retail markets about six times a year in order to bring in the freshest and most appealing fashions as well as imported lines. “I really go out of my way to get the best lines available.”

Her love for antiques has also put a twist on traditional accessories. An antique dealer for years, Richardson says she uses her knowledge in the business – as well as some items in her personal collection – to provide one of the widest selections of antique jewelry in the area. From 14-karat gold to amber jewelry and Lithuanian gemstones, she says her choices and prices should appeal to serious collectors and to those looking for style.