Cherryville boutique offers clothing with drinks
The idea for a boutique came to Randi Hicks on a trip to Texas last year, where she visited a shop that had a beer and wine bar in it.
"So we decided to bring that home," she said.
Hicks, who lives in Lawndale, recently opened The Wild Cholla on North Mountain Street in downtown Cherryville. The shop has a beer and wine bar, and also an array of clothing, jewelry, and shoes.
"This town needs growth and needs change, and we thought it would be a good place," she said.
The Wild Cholla, named after a type of cactus, is Hicks' first business.
"I kind of wanted to own a business. I wasn't sure what kind of business I wanted to own, and then I got really into wanting to buy clothes and realized I was good at it," she said.
Hicks' true turning point came, however, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of last year at the age of 41. After undergoing a double mastectomy in January, she decided not to return to her job in the medical field.
"If it hadn't been for the mammogram, we wouldn't have known," she said.
After her diagnosis, "It was kind of now or never."
She said at The Wild Cholla, she wants to create an environment where people can gather, "and they can still shop as well."
The building that houses her shop is owned by investor Patrick O'Leary, who owns more than 20 properties in and around downtown Cherryville.
Hicks said that O'Leary was renovating the building before she moved in, and he replaced the air conditioning system and had a painting on the wall restored.
"He starts the renovation process before they're even rented," Hicks said.
Her goal for the shop is simple.
"We just want to be successful," she said. "Everybody here goes to Shelby or to Lincolnton to shop. We want those people to come here and hopefully bring more business and life to this town."
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Cherryville boutique offers clothing with drinks
