Lilly Kate Boutique hopes to find a home in Cheney

Tina Sikkema is betting that a popular business she once ran in the last place she lived will have the same success in Cheney.

Sikkema plans to open her latest version of Lilly Kate Boutique in space she's acquired adjacent to Papa Murphy's at 1818 First St. The store has a "soft deadline" for an opening of Feb. 1, 2016, Sikkema said.

"I used to have a younger version of the store, kind of infant up to age 8 or so, where we used to live in Sacramento," Sikkema said. "Lilly Kate is actually named after my daughter."

The Cheney version will be the more trendy fashions for the 20 and 30-somethings.

Sikkema calls the style Bohemian chic, which is defined as a style of fashion drawing on various bohemian and hippie influences, which, at its height in late 2005 was associated particularly with actress Sienna Miller and model Kate Moss in England.

"I've always been crafty and very entrepreneurial," Sikkema said. "I'm a horrible employee but a great business owner," she added with a chuckle.

Sikkema's husband, captain Brian Sikkema is a tanker pilot stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base.

"As soon as we got orders to move here I started scouting out different towns and that helped us decide where in the area we were going to live," Sikkema said. "Cheney doesn't really have any clothing options at all, especially for new stuff."

Sikkema is faced with the same challenge that other Cheney small business owners have - Spokane being just 20 minutes away - and convincing people to shop local.

"We're not (for the) high-end, super Coach purse carrying (customer)," Sikkema said. "We're more for the average mom, average lady who just wants to look a little bit nicer and have some fun clothes to wear."

She hopes that having local artisans and crafters involved will also drive business.

A significant portion of inventory will be commercially produced with specialty items like crocheted hair bows. "Help support your fellow stay-at-home moms," Sikkema said.

While still a few months away from the opening of Lilly Kate, Sikkema said initial plans call for the business to be open Tuesdays through Saturdays. That's until she gets a feel for when people are out shopping.

Sikkema announced plans for the business at the November meeting of the Cheney Merchant's Association where she not only became a new member, but chose to take the challenge of joining the board, too. She offered to serve as the organization's secretary, something board members quickly agreed to.

"I wanted to dive right in and start making connections," Sikkema said.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].