Jo Rose Ann Boutique opens in Frazee

By Robert Williams

Editor

Recent high school graduate Taylor Perrine held a grand opening of her new store Jo Rose Ann on Friday, June 26, in Frazee, and her reward for a successful launch was a depleted inventory for her first week, despite pulling off the opening without a lot of fanfare.  ¶  “Not a lot of people knew; I kind of kept it on the down low for a bit,” Perrine said. “Family knew, close friends knew.”  ¶  Those friends and family members showed up in droves to support the new store.  ¶  “It was crazy,” said Perrine. “This first week, honestly, I came in, going into it like I have no idea how it’s going to go. I don’t know how my inventory is going to go, if people are going to like it in here. Having that feedback is good and I had an amazing opening day.”  ¶  By the following Thursday, the early success could be seen by how much inventory was gone.

“Look around here…I’m pretty cleaned out,” Perrine laughed. “That’s such a good problem and it shows me that obviously there are changes to do but that’s just me figuring out how to run the place.”

The idea to open the boutique was not a whim; it was something Taylor and her mother Heather had in the works for a while.

“We’ve been planning this for years; we’ve had this idea…maybe we should have a boutique, maybe we should have a clothing store,” Perrine said. “It would definitely enhance Frazee because we don’t have anything like this.”

Perrine’s high school graduation provided the perfect timing.

“We decided to do it; I did the LLC while I was just freshly a senior; we’ve been working on it, getting ideas and then I graduated and it was like, boom, we’re going to start setting this up and hopefully, get it going before the start of summer,” said Perrine.

The mother-daughter combo has some unique aspects. It was Heather’s act of opening The Monarch in 2024 that started the restaurant boom downtown. Four years ago, the food scene in Frazee was grim. Taylor hopes her boutique provides a similar motivation to those who want to bring more retail stores to Main Avenue.

Perrine also took a lot of inspiration from the Vergas business community. 

“All these bakeries and restaurants are great; they definitely are bringing more people into town, but we do need more clothing stores. I hope bringing this in here will maybe give people ideas,” she said.

Perrine also credits fellow 2026 grad Lexi Ulschmid and her work to organize and run the Frazee Farmers Market. Both Taylor and Lexi also work together as baristas at The Monarch.

“We work together so we get to talk a lot of business; she’s done an amazing job,” said Perrine.

Other residents have commented to both ladies on the positive impact they are having in Frazee.

“It’s crazy; I don’t think about it sometimes,” said Perrine. “I don’t think about how much of an impact we put on town. People tell me, ‘You’re only 18!’ and you’re right I am only 18. This is crazy. I hope to do this for a long time.”

Perrine called her boutique her “happy place” and a “starter store” with hopes that success will allow her to expand.

“The biggest goal for me is to get this space into somewhere bigger so it can grow,” said Perrine.

Taylor is also seeking out other young, local entrepreneurs to showcase their goods.

“I’d like to start collaborating with small businesses and getting them out there,” she said.

Perrine’s enthusiasm for business and finding ways to benefit her hometown is a family inspiration and she witnessed some first-hand. Heather was an inspiration to friend Sara Erickson, along with some help from Karen Pifher on starting Mama’s Pizzeria N’ Scoops.

Erickson, in turn, gave helpful advice to Perrine while she was in the early stages of the boutique.

“My parents are my biggest role models,” said Perrine. “Them both owning their own businesses. My dad over the past years he’s done phenomenal. It’s hard work, for sure, but that gives me the determination to do my own and have that same mindset and hopefully grow as big as he has. Even my Aunt, she’s a business owner; the majority of my family are entrepreneurs and own their own businesses. I look up to all of them.”

Taylor also welcomes competition and hopes her boutique will have a similar effect on downtown Frazee that her mom’s The Monarch has.

“It’s definitely going to happen; all I can give them is my grace and support for them,” Perrine said. “That was the main goal here too, opening this, somebody else will have the same idea. I think that would be great if somebody opened something up. I’d give them my full support. If I could help them out as much as I could and give them advice. I love that more than anything.”

Perrine worked at small boutiques when she was younger and her love for retail sales made breaking out on her own an easy decision.

“That’s the best thing about it; I’m my own boss,” she said. “I get to make the changes, make the rules, everything, so, it’s great.”

The boutique is located at 103 N. Lake Street and has a web presence on Facebook “Jo Rose Ann Boutique.” Current store hours are Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.