Amanda Csongedi and her husband were exploring a small beach town in North Carolina – one that reminded them of Vermilion, where they live – when she became taken with a small downtown clothing store.
And at dinner that night, she announced she thought she could run a similar business.
“I’ve always been into fashion and have wanted to make people feel good, wanted to bring something different to people’s lives,” says Csongedi, owner of The Sweet Life Boutique, during a recent phone interview. “I was like, ‘If I don’t take this risk now to open a store, I’ll regret it.’”
She launched the store in May at 1418 State Road, Suite 3, south of downtown Vermilion. It doesn’t have a website yet, but you can follow it on
Facebook and
Instagram.
“I’m just trying to provide the latest in women’s fashion trends so (customers) don’t have to look further than Vermilion,” Csongedi says. “I've tried to have trendy and classic apparel, including plus-size and rare finds.”
She also tries to keep prices reasonable where she can, she says, offering some shirts around $20 and jackets around $80.
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Amanda Csongedi in May opened The Sweet Life Boutique in Vermilion where granddaughter Jayden Csongedi works part-time. (Photo/Courtesy of Amanda Csongedi)“I do sell vintage Louis Vuitton bags, so those are a little bit higher,” she says.
She’s thrown herself into the art of selecting what she will sell, visiting the large Dallas Market Center to meet wholesalers and joining The Boutique Hub.
“You have to really know what trends are coming,” she says.
She’s already stocked a few items for winter but is still working on determining what will be hot for the cold holiday season.
If anything, she’s enjoyed running the store even more than she expected.
“I like meeting new people, getting everyone’s feedback,” says Csongedi, who grew up in Strongsville and attended Bowling Green State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in healthcare administration. “I like being in this town. I feel like everyone’s very warm and welcoming and very supportive.”
She hopes she’s brought something different to the lakeside city.
“(I want) people in Vermilion to feel like it’s their little secret of a clothing boutique, that maybe not all the tourists know, that kind of makes them feel at home when they’re here.”
Just to be clear: The tourists’ money is good there, too?
“Oh yeah, for sure.”