Many Ashland residents would agree that downtown, specifically Main Street, is something reminiscent of a ghost town. And it is no wonder, with boarded-up doors, spray-painted glass and dusty window displays on every corner. 

However, not all hope is lost. There are a few hidden gems among the junk, and one of them is a trendy new boutique that recently opened called Clothes Minded. 

Clothes Minded is run by owner Ali Amato, who has owned her boutique in Ashland for seven years. She moved her location from Union Street to Main Street in order to expand her inventory.

“We were over on Union Street in the Uniontown Building. It was about a fourth of the size of this store…plus we wanted to bring in some more lines and really expand what we do and have a bigger store,” Amato said.

The boutique’s new location, 147 Main Street, is an artsy building that used to be a graphic design studio called Red Red Design.

“We’ve always had our eye on this location. We like the artsy look on the inside,” Amato said. “We think it’s really eclectic and cool and downtown and urban.”

Now they partner closely with their neighboring store, Downtown Perk, another boutique and café.

“We do a lot of partnering with Downtown Perk and Enjoy!. We try to do a lot of Main Street marketing events,” Amato said.

Amato strives to sell affordable designer clothing. She says their biggest hit is the jeans they sell for very competitive prices, and, like many other storeowners, Facebook is a huge marketing tool for Amato.

“Facebook is huge for us,” she said. “Everybody sees our sales; it’s really what made our store take off.”

Fans of the boutique can also use the Facebook page to write reviews and ask questions. All the reviews rave about the amazing service and variety of clothing.

“The store is amazing and the owner is awesome!” said AU student Paige Rengert. “She gives terrific advice on how to pair items!”

“Clothes Minded is a great little boutique and I love that they actually have reasonable prices,” Tarin Cook, another AU student, said, “Its right down the road so it’s really convenient. I also like that the owner is super friendly and everyone is always very nice in there.”

So next time you are feeling bored or want to check out a fashionable new store, Clothes Minded Boutique is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.