GREENVILLE — After 20 years in the West End of Greenville, Jennifer Houde and Melanie Paddock are moving their women's clothing boutique next door.
The high-end, contemporary clothing retailer Augusta Twenty is relocating from 20 Augusta St. to 26 Augusta St. The building that has been vacant since The Cook's Station moved almost three years ago to Buncombe Street. The new location will still sell clothes, gifts and accessories, and will add a cafe.
Paddock opened Augusta Twenty in 2002. Two years after, Houde was hired as a part-time employee. She eventually bought into the company, and now the pair have been business partners for about 15 years.
Augusta Twenty’s new building, across the street from The Warehouse Theatre, will double the boutique’s current footprint. Inside, clothing racks, shoe shelves and a checkout counter will be on the left side of the store, while the cafe and gift shop will be on the right. The two sides are divided and separated by doors.
Augusta Twenty, a women's clothing boutique in Greenville's West End, is relocating to 26 Augusta St., next door to its old store. Stephanie Mirah/Staff
The cafe will serve coffee, wine, beer, cocktails and pastries from The Hester General Store. Bottles of alcohol will be available for purchase in a grab-and-go cooler container. Tables will be scattered both inside and on the back patio for customers.
Cabinetry on the walls and additional tables will hold gift items such as scarves, hats, mugs, perfumes, kids games, flowers from a local florist and more. The sales desk specifically for the gift shop side will include a wrapping service.
Houde understands that, for some, high-end fashion may feel alienating. The cafe addition is intended to be a space for all.
"We've been in the West End for 20 years when there was nothing else here," Houde said. "And the West End is now kind of the center of everything, in our opinion. So, we wanted to create a landmark, a meeting point where people from all around can come."
Construction is expected to be finished by Oct. 15, Houde said. The partners then hope to open later in October. A definite date has yet to be set.
Augusta Twenty, a women's clothing boutique in the West End of Greenville, is moving out of its 20-year spot at 20 Augusta St. and moving into the neighboring spot at 26 Augusta St. Stephanie Mirah/Staff
The hours for the clothing section will mimic the store’s current hours — Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed on Sundays. The cafe will be open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Hours are subject to change.
In addition to the five current employees, Houde and Paddock are looking to bring on about seven or eight more.
