Strolling through the Promenade next to the now, almost city-like Crocker Park, you'll find the eye-catching and unique Mademoiselle boutique nestled between Bruegger's Bagels and Giovanni Carrelli Clothier. Captivated by fashion, haute couture clothing and cultural trends, Fadia Nemeh was inspired to create a boutique that enveloped all that she loved into a shopping experience like no other. It all began with her love affair with Paris and everything Parisian, and she even found inspiration in a nail polish called “Mademoiselle”; a light bulb went off and a dream was born.
“I wanted Mademoiselle to be a place where girls and women alike could come in and find something unique, yet affordable," Fadia, owner of Mademoiselle, said. "My business is a dichotomy; I do fun fashion-forward clothing and accessories, and I also am an authorized retailer of Jovani and Sherri Hill dresses and gowns.”
Before I even walk through the doors of Mademoiselle, the Eiffel Tower statue catches my eye through the window, and I enter to a friendly greeting. I am quickly enchanted by the vibrant colors, beading, jewels and textures of clothing, scarves and jewelry that are displayed before me. As I peruse racks of clothing, girls looking for prom dresses pose near the dressing room, trying on beautiful assortments of dresses long and short, elegant and edgy and classically refined. Each piece is unique, as Fadia personally selects her clothing options and is conscious of limiting the selection to make it a “one of a kind” buyer’s find and something that is accommodating to the needs and trends of the local buyer. Without ever having been to Paris before, I truly felt enraptured by the cultural décor displayed throughout and felt it emulated the type of experience you would dream of having abroad.
Not only is the style of clothing, decor and quality something that sets this store apart, but also the services and support it provides to the community. “Being a local business, we are always trying to contribute. Most recently, we have done the Westlake High School Prom Fashion Show and a fashion show fundraiser for Saint Maron Church," Fadia said.
Like any small, locally-owned business, there are highs and lows that come along the way. There is the excitement of sharing your joy and inspiration with others and getting to know everyone who walks through the door, and there are the slow periods inbetween. Luckily, Mademoiselle is not alone. “I am blessed to have had a great response from the community," Fadia said. "People in Cleveland are really great about supporting their local businesses, and people have truly embraced me and Mademoiselle!”
Fadia’s advice to other small business owners and entrepreneurs is, “Do not be scared to do something that hasn’t been done before; that is what will set you apart from the rest. Find good help, the kind that will treat your business as if it were their own. If I did not have an amazing employee, Kailey, who is not only great with customers, a talented photographer, and has also become a great friend, I couldn’t be a business.”
Mademoiselle is located in the Promenade at Crocker Park in Westlake, at 30159 Detroit Road. For more information, visit www.shopmademoiselle.com.
