BELLEVUE (NBC26) — As the nation begins to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the "stars aligned" for one area woman to live out her childhood dream and pay tribute to one of her biggest supporters.
Kelly Prust opened J.LUX Fashion, 1671 Hoffman Rd. in Bellevue, about six weeks ago. The boutique features athletic, casual and formal wear for men and women, as well as accessories like jewelry and handbags.
"Fashion was always just something I really loved," Prust said.
Growing up, Prust would play dress up in her mom's closet and look at different fashion magazines. She recalled going through the JCPenny catalog and circling her favorite items.
For the last 14 years, Prust worked with her sister at Plae Bistro in Bellevue, which her sister owns.
During the pandemic, Prust said she wanted to do something different. She decided it was time to give her dream a shot.
“A lot of people were like, “well, to open something right after COVID, and during, was kind of risky,"" Prust said. "But it actually was a great time, because things are getting better, and people are going out more and they’re looking for things to wear, because they’re not stuck in their house anymore.”
The timing seemed to be just right. Not too long into her search for a store location, a spot opened in the same building as Plae Bistro. Prust's boutique now sits just two doors down from her sister's restaurant.
The sisters continue to see each other on a daily basis, grabbing a coffee or new clothes for the closet.
“I am so proud of her," said Jill Bassett, Plae Bistro owner and Prust's older sister. "The restaurant business is my dream. That was my dream my whole life and the clothing business has been hers. So when she wanted to get back into it and left Plae, I was so happy there was a spot open down here.”
Prust said her mom was her "biggest cheerleader," and always supported her dream of owning a fashion store. Sadly, her mom didn't get to see her daughter successfully open the shop: She passed away about three years ago.
That's why Prust dedicated the store's name, J.LUX, to her mom.
“My mom’s name was Jeanie. So the ‘J’ was for her, and ‘Lux’ in Latin means ‘the light.’ So it’s just a tribute to my mom to make her proud, because I know then she’s with me every day as I’m doing my dream," Prust said. "I hope I’m making her proud."
Prust said she hopes to open a second J.LUX location within the next few years, possibly in Door County.
