News Summary
Grand Rapids welcomes Roman James, an upscale clothing boutique located at 620 Wealthy Street. The boutique opened with a grand event, promoting community engagement through a partnership with the BISSEL Pet Foundation. Roman James offers a unique selection of women’s fashion and personal styling services, created by experienced entrepreneurs James Garnant and Debby Lopez. The boutique also plans to expand with a men’s clothing store soon, demonstrating its ambitions for growth in the retail sector.
Grand Rapids is now home to a new upscale clothing boutique called Roman James, located at 620 Wealthy Street. The boutique opened its doors for a grand opening event from May 15 to 17, providing shoppers an exclusive opportunity to explore its unique offerings. In conjunction with its launch, Roman James organized a promotion supporting the BISSEL Pet Foundation, underlining its commitment to community engagement.
Positioned between Fox Naturals and Rowster Coffee in the vibrant East Hills neighborhood, Roman James features large floor-to-ceiling windows that invite in natural light, creating a welcoming shopping atmosphere. The boutique prides itself on offering a curated selection of women’s fashion that balances style with practicality for everyday wear. Customers seeking a unique fashion experience can take advantage of personal styling consultations available by appointment, fostering an environment where individuals feel seen and confident in their style choices.
The boutique was founded by partners James Garnant and Debby Lopez. Garnant brings nearly two decades of experience as a stylist and has a history of entrepreneurial ventures in the fashion industry. He originally moved to Grand Rapids to pursue a medical residency but transitioned into retail, opening the Sacred Roots Hair Salon in 2007, which evolved to include clothing sales over time. Previously, the duo collaborated at Garnant’s other boutiques, which are successfully operated in Ada and Saugatuck-Douglas.
Roman James stands out by offering popular brands including Bella Dahl, Spanx, Dolce Cabo, French Connection, and CK Bradley. This carefully chosen inventory reflects the boutique’s vision of enhancing the luxury retail experience, aiming to cater to the lifestyle needs of its customers. The shopping experience at Roman James is designed to transition smoothly from a traditional salon and retail model into a focused boutique experience.
In addition to the women’s clothing offerings, the owners plan to expand their business model by launching a new men’s clothing boutique, Roman James Men, set to open by August 1. This expansion will also include features such as a barbershop and an in-store tailor, enhancing the one-stop shopping experience for men. The future men’s boutique is slated to be located in Ada, further extending the presence of Roman James in the community.
Roman James is not only focusing on its immediate operations but also planning significant growth over the next decade. With aspirations to open up to 20 new stores across various communities, the brand is keen on expanding its reach and establishing a broader presence in the retail market.
The location at 620 Wealthy Street became available following the closure of the Cultivate arts school, giving Garnant the perfect opportunity to lease the space and materialize his vision for Roman James. With its distinguished atmosphere and commitment to quality, the boutique aims to create a lasting impact in Grand Rapids’ retail scene.
For customers, shopping at Roman James is not just about acquiring fashionable clothing; it’s about experiencing a tailored and uplifting shopping experience. As the boutique settles into the Grand Rapids community, it looks forward to playing an integral role in the local fashion landscape while fostering connections with its clientele.
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Additional Resources
- Crain’s Grand Rapids
- Wikipedia: Fashion Industry
- The New York Times
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Fashion
- WWD
- Google Search: Upscale Clothing Boutique
- Vogue
- Google News: Grand Rapids Fashion
Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER
GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER The GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGrandRapids.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, and World of Winter. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in furniture, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and Meijer. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
