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LAPLACE — Located at 554 Belle Terre Blvd. in LaPlace, the new Barbi-Joy Boutique has the same elegant feeling as shops lining Magazine Street in New Orleans.

Kit Jarrow has always taken an interest in fashion and shopping. However, the opening of Barbi-Joy Boutique has a deeper meaning than just the clothes on the rack.

“Barbi-Joy stands for Barbara and Joyce, my mom and my mother-in-law who are both deceased,” Jarrow said. “This was something we wanted to do to leave behind for our daughter to create generational wealth, but also to make our mothers proud. They were both single parents who worked so hard to provide for us, so it’s very special to me.”

Jarrow is an Edgard native and has been a resident of the Foxwood neighborhood of LaPlace for the past eight years. She loves the St. John the Baptist Parish community, and it was important to her to open a business on the Belle Terre corridor that would encourage people to shop local.

“Every time I shopped, I was going to Metairie. I wanted to bring that feel to our small community. I think it’s vital. It’s what we need in this area to keep our customers here and not have to drive so far,” Jarrow said.

As the mother of a 24-year-old, Jarrow has often walked into stores her daughter would shop in and realized the clothing on the rack isn’t appropriate for the middle-aged crowd. Through Barbi-Joy Boutique, Jarrow caters to a wider age range of women. There’s something for everyone to love without sacrificing style, whether a customer is in her 20s or in her 60s.

The store also caters to ladies of varying sizes with a selection of free-flowing styles.

“I like clothes that are edgy but still classy. I have clothes that are more flattering and appealing while still keeping up with the times and not feeling like it’s so, so conservative,” Jarrow said. “I want to be that happy medium where you can be conservative but still have that extra little sass.”

In addition to clothes, the new boutique also offers a wide selection of gorgeous jewelry, handbags and other accessories.

Barbi-Joy Boutique celebrated its grand opening on March 3. The business is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and by appointment on Sunday.

“I’m doing what I love to do and what I’ve always had a passion for doing,” Jarrow said. “I love my area, and I want to be of service to the community.”

Follow @_juskit_nokaboodles_ on Instagram to see updates on the store inventory and new arrivals.