Ukrainian Village is full of friendly people and fun shops, but none friendlier and more entertaining than the sisters behind the chic Alcala’s Boutique. Inside you’ll find bright, patterned tops and dresses, trendy boots, shoes and accessories to compliment any outfit, but the real showstoppers are co-owners Linda and Elia Alcala.
After working retail for years at their family’s store, Alcala’s Western Wear, now owned by their father, the sisters decided it was time to open up something that catered more toward the fashionable woman. So, they decided to set up shop right next door in a space their father was using for storage.
“We wanted to leave the cocoon and fly and you know, experiment,” Elia said.
The sisters both went to school and graduated from DePaul University; Linda with a degree in business, and Elia with a degree in fashion. As time passed and their boutique blossomed, they switched roles. Now Elia is in charge of the marketing and social media while Linda executes the buying, thrifting and, most recently, designing.
The well-rounded amount of knowledge between the two makes for a successful recipe, and their different personalities create an equal balance in the business.
“My sister is spontaneous,” Elia said. “She’s a risk taker, while I’m more cautious, so I think we balance each other out because even though we’re so different, we both want the same thing in the end.”[pullquote]
- Alcala boutique poster
Alcala’s Boutique, 739 W Chicago Ave., 312.226.0225
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While their education may have something to do with their success, it’s their outgoing and bubbly personalities that keep customers coming back. They’re fun, are always smiling and know how to give some serious high-fives. Everyone is known by his or her first name and they make people feel right at home.
“I like the one-on-one experience of it all,” Linda said. “People fall in love with it and they come back, and that’s what inspires me to keep offering different things, because when you see returning faces- that’s a great feeling.”
And happy returning customers they’ll see, especially with their new line of shoes on the horizon. Made of quality leather from Mexico, the boutiques brand of shoes and boots is classy, comfortable and, most importantly, affordable. Each design caters toward a different style of woman and has their signature teal leather sole with an Alcala’s “A” on it. Love it!
