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NEWPORT — Almost 40 years ago, people advised Jill Linton against opening a retailer in the Newport area. Businesses there were struggling.
She did it anyway, opening a women’s clothing store — JB Boutique — in Newport.
“It’s something I always wanted to do,” said Linton, who got into retail after working for a gift shop in Post Falls. “I always wanted to have my own store.”
But after 38 years on Newport’s main street, Linton has decided not to re-open JB Boutique after closing it in September last year. Not because it was struggling, Linton said, but because she wants to move to Hayden to be with family. Linton is 62, and in Hayden, she has two grandsons, three granddaughters and a fourth granddaughter coming in July. Her father also lives there.
Even so, Linton said it was not an easy decision for her to make.
“[I] have a lot of connections out there with the community and God, I hate to be another empty storefront on Main Street,” Linton said. “But, I have to do what’s best for me.”
Though Linton is closing JB Boutique, her other locations are still open. She continues to sell clothing at Tyee Coffee in Coolin, as well as at her stores in Hayden — Just Because Fashions and Sage Boutique.
Sage Boutique is modeled after JB Boutique, carrying clothing in a casual style. Just Because Fashions, which Linton opened about 17 years ago, has more elevated casual clothing.
Both share an inventory and accommodate women of all body types.
“I do cater to everybody,” Linton said.
Before closing, JB Boutique had four employees. Now it is just Linton and her inventory manager, Pam Moore, disbursing JB Boutique’s remaining inventory to Linton’s other locations. The Newport location will become their hub.
“All our goods come into this store, and then we transport it all,” Linton said.
Linton thanks her customers for all their support and business over the years.
She said she knows JB Boutique will be a loss to the Newport area. Besides Newport, Linton had customers from towns by Priest Lake, Diamond Lake, Sacheen Lake and Bead Lake. Moore estimates the number of women JB Boutique has helped to be in the thousands, and its customer base was still growing before Linton decided to close.
“I love retail. I love women, helping them pick out the perfect outfit for their body type,” Linton said. “And I’m still going to remain doing that at my other stores.”
JB Boutique is hosting a farewell party. The details of the farewell party will be posted on social media.
