Boutique owner returns to Lee Branch to open 2nd shop
Katherine Mattrella recently opened a store in the Lee Branch Shopping Center for the second time.
Her first, Plain Jane’s, opened in 2006. She ran it for two years before selling it when her family moved to Fairhope. The new owner gave the business an overhaul and ran it for 10 years before closing in 2018. Twelve years after her first shop, Mattrella opened Branch Boutique in the exact spot.
When Mattrella and her family moved back to the 280 corridor in 2011, she was running an online boutique carrying women’s clothing and accessories. Just as before, she outgrew the working space in her home. While looking for a location to open a shop, her old storefront in Lee Branch happened to be up for lease, and she said it was “just what we were looking for.”
She updated the space by adding new flooring, building dressing rooms, painting and adding new lighting. Mattrella said she chose the name Branch Boutique so it would be obvious where the store was located.
Mattrella’s daughter, Mary Katherine Connell, who is now out of college and working as a surgical assistant at Children's of Alabama, wanted to help her mom run the business and works as the store manager.
“I wanted a different pace in my life,” Connell said. “I went part-time at Children’s and am able to work almost full-time at the store and at the hospital one or two days a week. It’s a nice break from the store when I go to the hospital and from the hospital when I’m at the store.”
Branch Boutique sells women’s clothing for all ages, from teenagers to grandmothers, along with jewelry, accessories and home items. They decided to bring back baby items, because they were the main product at Plain Jane’s and there aren’t many options nearby. They also support other local businesses, selling Yucatan Trading Company candles, wood blocks from Wood Ya Look at That and picture frames from Snooty Toot.
“We appeal to a wide variety of ages and tastes,” Mattrella said. “We have a little bit of something for everybody and a wide variety of items including cups, bags, clothing, jewelry and hats.”
Mattrella said she has always loved the baby items, and Branch Boutique sells sleepers, newborn gowns, bubbles, swaddles, hats and bonnets, burp cloths, booties and smocked dresses in size newborn up to 24 months. Name brands include Magnolia Baby, 3 Marthas, Petite Ami, Paty and Little Giraffe.
“We have high end, quality merchandise, but at affordable prices,” Connell said.
While working with family can be challenging, the women say they work well together and that most days it doesn’t even feel like work.
“We get to spend more time together,” Connell said. “We both want to get from point A to point B but don’t always have same path. We feed off each other for what works best.”
They place a high priority on customer service and friendliness and make sure everyone who visits their store feels welcome. They are happy to help people choose clothes and accessories to match, as well as give gift suggestions when needed. Conveniently located next to the UPS store, some customers will come in and purchase a gift and walk next door to ship it. Mattrella has hired one employee so far but plans to add more as business grows.
Customers also can comment on social media posts to purchase items on the store’s Facebook (branchboutiquebham) and Instagram (@branchboutique) pages. Items can be shipped or picked up in store, too.
Connell said, “If you’re going somewhere and need a gift, you can run in here and buy it and have it wrapped and get it on your way.”
Branch Boutique is located at the Village at Lee Branch, 270 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 600, and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.