New boutique will open Wednesday on Kirkwood

Bluetique Cheap Chic is opening its ninth and newest store Wednesday in downtown Bloomington. The store, originally based in Lexington, Ky., will offer free pearl earrings for stopping by during the grand opening.

Whitney Rhorer, marketing director at Bluetique, said the chain offers affordable, stylish clothing that appeals to college-aged women.

“Everything is under $70,” Rhorer said. “We just started finding our niche is the college-aged woman, someone who wants something fun to wear without paying a lot for that piece. So, ever since, every time we take over a store it’s usually close to a campus.”

Bluetique, which will be at 427 E. Kirkwood Ave., has taken the spot of another clothing boutique called Wear It.

The first Bluetique boutique opened in February 2011, according to a press release.

Bluetique has eight other stores located throughout the eastern half of the United States. Each store is purposefully located in a college town, Rhorer said.

Though Bluetiques are chain stores, each one is tailored toward the campus it is located in. Rhorer gave the example of the Bluetique near University of Kentucky, which has a blue color scheme and has a wildcat, the school’s mascot, spray-painted onto the wall.

“Here in Indiana, we have red and we will be able to offer the girls on the campus a lot of different red items, red and white, red and cream,” Rhorer said.

The goal of the company is to offer “trendy game-day apparel” at good prices, according to the release.

Howard Rackmil owns all of the stores. He scouts out areas for new stores and felt Bloomington was a perfect location to satisfy the company’s focus, Rhorer said.

“He fell in love with downtown Bloomington,” Rhorer said. “He really liked the small-town feel, everything centered around the college campus.”
Rhorer said she and the company are excited to see the success Bluetique will have in Bloomington.

“I just think it’ll be a great thing, something you all haven’t had before, something that’s easily accessible,” Rhorer said. “You’ll be able to pop in and leave with something you love.”