By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— After developing a love for modern style and niche boutiques, Jamie Riley and Kandace Weaver decided to share their fashion know-how with the Pelham area.

MK’z Boutique, located at 2976 Pelham Parkway, officially opened June 25 in the Cahaba Village plaza next door to American Family Care. The shop carries a selection of boutique clothing and accessories, as well as some shoes and handmade items.

“We wanted to do it from a variety standpoint, like one high-end vendor and then spread the rest out so it’s not extremely expensive,” Weaver said. “It’s affordable. So far, the customers who have met us are pleased with the price.”

The shop carries a lot of name brand boutique clothing, but many of the less expensive varieties. Riley said they wanted to keep it simple and cater to the needs of everyone, especially with the high school being so close by.

The collection of clothing is of a more modern style, such as the hippie jeans and clothes that are popular now. There are also more flowing tops for some of the older women as well.

Weaver said they would like to expand into men’s and children’s clothing in the future.

MK’z features a collection of shoes, jewelry and sunglasses, as well as handmade picture frames and door hangers. Weaver said she’d like to add a candle vendor to the shop soon.

Before opening the boutique, Riley spent about 15 years as a stay-at-home mom taking care of her kids. Now that they are grown, she said she wanted something to keep her busy.

“I’ve always dressed my kids to the nines, and they are always like ‘Mom, why don’t you open a boutique?’” Riley said. “And Kandace is the same way—she’s always loved clothes; she loves fashion.”

Weaver majored in retail merchandise and said her husband, who owns his own business, asked Weaver if a boutique was something she would like to pursue.

Together, Weaver and Riley moved forward with the idea.

“We just decided that was a dream that we both had,” Weaver said. “It’s going great. It’s what we wanted.”

MK’z Boutique is located at 2976 Pelham Parkway. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 445-4512 or visit Facebook.com/mkzboutiqueinc/?hc_location=ufi.