SCOUT & MOLLY’S BOUTIQUE DEBUT
As owner Maria Veilleux greeted customers on Scout & Molly’s opening day in Walnut Creek last month, dressed in a floral dress by Cupcakes and Cashmere, it was hard to believe she used to work in biotech. After more than 20 years in the field, Veilleux, who lives in Danville, needed a change, and a friend from her MBA program at Cal State East Bay suggested opening a Scout & Molly’s store. The franchise boutique chain, based in Raleigh, N.C, was launched in 2002 by Lisa Kornstein, who named the business after her two beloved dogs. With 41 locations in over 10 states, most of them on the East Coast, the chain is now making its Northern California debut. The Walnut Creek store, like all of its nationwide siblings, incorporates a number of brands, some widespread and some, like the Australian brand Shila, unique to the chain. Veilleux curates the collection herself, choosing from more than 500 vendors, with seasonal trend suggestions from the head buyer.
For summer, the boutique hosts breezy printed dresses by BB Dakota and Fifteen Twenty, summer shoes by Dolce Vita and wrinkle-resistant T-shirts by Clara Sunwoo, alongside denim and layering-friendly scarves. “There’s a lot of mother-and-daughter shopping in this area, so trends cater to all ages,” Veilleux says. “I try to pick casual and chic items, especially since the weather here is so good.” Before Scout & Molly’s moved in, the space used to house a men’s clothing store, all black walls and severe interiors. Now, plush carpets, sketches of stylish women and a big turquoise chandelier accompany the mix-and-match racks, signaling a change of scenery to the male customers who still occasionally wander in. “Some elements of the store are similar to other branches, but some I customordered,” says Veilleux, who enjoys her new endeavor much more than working for a large corporation. “It’s radically different,” she says, with a laugh, looking very much at home with Scout & Molly’s bright, feminine aesthetic.