By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—South Boutique is now open for business in the Village at Lee Branch. The popular Trussville-based clothing store celebrated the grand opening of its U.S. 280 location on Friday, Sept. 11.

South Boutique’s new location offers shoppers plenty of space to browse the store’s wide selection of merchandise. Although more than twice the size of the original Trussville location, the new shop stays true to South Boutique’s signature southern-rustic look.

The walls of the storefront are lined racks of clothing, and tables throughout the store are artfully stacked with bridal gifts, jewelry and accessories.

“We’ve been able to do this the way we wanted,” owner Anna Spruiell said. “There’s a really good selection for every age and every person.”

South Boutique specializes in contemporary women’s clothing, carrying the latest styles from New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Atlanta. With the additional space of the new location, the shop has been able to expand its inventory, adding shoes, more jewelry, accessories and a wedding registry to the mix.

Shoppers can also find a number of locally-based lines at South Boutique, including Aviate hats, Kristalize and Made in the Deep South jewelry, Hide and Hunter bags and the boutique’s own line of candles, South Candle.

“We were able to bring in a lot of (local) lines,” Spruiell said. “I think people appreciate that because it’s local.”

In addition to the storefront, South Boutique’s new 3,600-square-foot location also houses a warehouse space and photo studio for its rapidly growing online business.

“We were shipping out of the country!” Spruiell said. “When you walk in (to the warehouse), it’s a whole different world… You can see how much more we can do here and grow here.”

Getting the new location ready for the grand opening has been a lengthy process, and Spruiell said she was lucky to have the help and support of her family.

“My dad was the brains behind the build-out. Anything out there that you see, he did,” Spruiell said, adding her brother pitched in with construction and her mother helps with the South Candle business. “I really couldn’t have done it without them.”

South Boutique will launch its new website on Monday, Sept. 14 and a grand opening celebration will be hosted at the boutique on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The boutique is located in the Village at Lee Branch next to Fitness Xpress. South Boutique is open Mondays-Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.