Invite your friends and family and grab a sweet treat on the first day of school! Visit Pineapple Dream and a percentage of the proceeds will help support the Junior League of Topeka! Interested in learning more about how you can advance your leadership while making a meaningful difference in the community? Want to develop a network and make friends? Stop by and learn about membership with the Junior League!
Thursday, August 11
5 – 11 p.m.
6750 SW 29th St.
Join members of the Junior League of Topeka on Saturday, February 19 from 10 a.m. – noon at Ash Boutique, 921 S. Kansas in Topeka. Socialize, shop and learn about the Junior League! Brunch hors d’ouvres will be available along with mimosas (for 21 and over only). In coordination, Junior League members will be collecting gently worn professional women’s clothing for the Center for Safety & Empowerment.
By Ginger Niemann Harper
Nestled among residential neighborhoods in Central Topeka, Westboro Mart shopping plaza provides shoppers with a wide variety of goods and services. Developed by Tinkham Veale in 1931, Westboro Mart is home to eight locally owned businesses. Many of the businesses are long-standing in the community, while others are recent additions.
These businesses include: Aura Salon, Beauchamp’s Art Gallery, Customskin MedSpa, Josey Baking Co., Lilly Grace Girls Boutique, Patio Pool & Fireside, Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts, and SOHO Interiors. While 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic proved a challenging year for many retail businesses in Topeka, the businesses in Westboro Mart found ways to adapt, sustain, and even expand their offerings.
Patio Pool & Fireside began offering curbside service for items such as: pool chemical pick-up, water testing, and purchasing outdoor grilling services. If you have a pool, the employees remain ready to come and service your equipment as usual. Porterfield’s Flowers & Gifts converted a store window near their cash registers to a walk-up service window, so customers were able to safely purchase a spot of cheer in the form of flowers throughout the pandemic. This includes their famous $5 Friday Flowers special!
Aura Salon, an Aveda Concept Salon, continued running specials and offered limited in-person shopping while providing free shipping and curbside pick up for products. For even more pampering, visit Customskin Med Spa for health and skin services, many of which are featured as monthly specials throughout the year. They also expanded their services in 2020 to include the Beauty Bar, which offers a variety of fresh pressed juices and other healthy options.
Since we all spent more time at home than ever in 2020, maybe your home is due for an interior refresh! If so, visit SOHO Interiors for boutique home interiors and design consulting services. They regularly feature their “Friday Favorites” on their Facebook page to give customers a look at items in-stock.
A new addition to the Mart is Lilly Grace Girls Boutique, which opened late-November 2020. Lilly Grace seeks to fill the need for girls ages roughly 8-14, though others may find gifts and items that can be enjoyed at any age.
Many customers may choose to get an early start on their visit to the Mart by visiting Josey Baking Co., which has made a name for itself with a variety of baked goods including this writer’s favorite, the sea salt chocolate chip cookies! Despite challenges, Josey Baking Co. has been able to host a few in-person events, such as their Saturday “Kegs and Kolaches,” and plan to continue to offer more events as the weather becomes nicer.
As you can see, Westboro Mart has many options for Topekans to support local businesses. These merchants appreciate the support they’ve received in 2020, and look forward to continuing to serve you in the future.
Capital Impact 