Marie Widmyer celebrates 30 years of Marie's Boutique
Marie Widmyer, right, and one of her two daughters, Kasey Widmyer, marked 30 years of Marie's ownership of Marie's Boutique, located inside The Coeur d'Alene Resort, on Tuesday.
HAILEY HILL/Press
COEUR d’ALENE — It’s a rare and lucky thing for a person to find their passion at a young age. Marie Widmyer was one of those people.
When Widmyer was in fourth grade, she made a denim wrap skirt by hand for a 4-H project. She ultimately won a ribbon for her work at the Western Idaho State Fair, and the rest is history.
“Ever since that day I’ve just always loved fashion,” Widmyer said. “I loved the feeling that I got from making it and showing it off.”
Widmyer has held onto that love of fashion — and the ribbon she won — throughout her career. Widmyer marked 30 years of having owned Marie’s Boutique, located inside The Coeur d’Alene Resort, on Tuesday.
Widmyer took over Marie’s Boutique from the original owner — who was, fittingly, also named Marie — in 1995.
Having worked at The Resort even before she took ownership of Marie’s Boutique, Widmyer has witnessed firsthand the transformation of the downtown business community.
“There’s so much history here,” Widmyer said. “There were periods of time when there were a lot of vacant spaces downtown. It wasn’t always the vibrant community that it is now in the retail space.”
Despite the ever-evolving nature of downtown, at least one thing has remained the same across the decades: Marie’s Boutique has been, and continues to be, a family business.
The original owner ran the boutique with her daughter, Widmyer explained, and she has continued that tradition with her own daughters, Kasey and Kaity Widmyer.
“I’m happy and excited to see that it’s continued to be a family business,” Widmyer said. “My girls, and my husband, have been an integral part of it.”
Widmyer’s granddaughter, now 8 years old, has also essentially grown up in the store, she added.
“I’m excited to see it go on to the next generation,” Widmyer said.
She also emphasized the importance of the community in helping the boutique be successful.
“You can’t do it all yourself. It takes a community,” Widmyer said.
Looking forward, Widmyer hopes to continue fostering the same inspiration and confidence in her customers that she felt the day she won that first ribbon.
“I want our customers to feel the same way,” Widmyer said.