Lisa Hambelton, right, has procured K. Lane’s Boutique from Diana Schmidt, middle, and Hambelton’s daughter, Taryn Taylor, remaining, will operate the longtime organization.
Courtesy photo
In March, K. Lane’s Boutique owner Diana Schmidt announced that she planned to close her store in the center at Kellogg and Tyler but said there was a chance it could sell instead.
That’s what has happened.
“The store will continue with new freshness that is just so exciting,” Schmidt said.
Lisa Hambelton, the dealer principal at Mel Hambelton Ford, has purchased K. Lane’s, but it will be her daughter’s to run.
“I have been a longtime customer at K. Lane’s as has my mom,” said Taryn Taylor.
Taylor worked at the store not quite four years ago and had considered buying it then, but the timing wasn’t quite right for her or Schmidt.
After 31 years in business, Schmidt said she’s excited to pass on the store to someone young “with big ideas but yet a respect for what we have built.”
“It just could not have worked out better.”
She said all of the store’s staff are staying.
“I am beyond thankful and blessed for the career . . . I’ve had at K. Lane’s and for the friends that our customers have become,” Schmidt said. “I will miss them terribly, but I’m very excited that they will have a K. Lane’s to continue to visit.”
Schmidt said she’s working through noon on May 20 to try to clear out merchandise “so that Taryn has a fresh slate to start with.”
After restocking the store and doing a bit of remodeling, Taylor plans to reopen the store on Aug. 4.
“It’s really important to me that I don’t go in and fix something that’s not broken,” she said. “Diana has done a really amazing job with that store.”
Taylor noted that she’s 29, her mother is in her 50s, and her grandmother is in her 80s.
“It’s really important to me to continue keeping K. Lane’s a generational shopping experience.”
Taylor said she wants customers to “make a girls’ day out of” shopping there.
She said she’s going to keep the atmosphere and brands that customers love “and then just add a few extra things.”
That’s why she’s slightly altering the store’s name, which will now be K. Lane’s & Co.
“So everyone will know it’s their same favorite store with just a few extras.”
