PHOTO COURTESY CRICKET"S FACEBOOK PAGE
Greencastle has certainly never been described as a hub for fashion, but the new store Cricket’s, located on the corner of Poplar and South Vine, is a step in the right direction. This boutique, the brainchild of current owner Lauren Smoot, carries a variety of sizes and styles of women’s clothing at affordable prices.
Cricket’s, which opened its doors during move-in week this past August, was developed by Smoot because she felt as though “Greencastle needed something like [Cricket’s]. There’s no where local to buy gifts or kid’s clothes.” Prior to the boutique’s grand opening, Smoot had been holding trunk sales at her sisters’ houses. Smoot explains that Cricket’s became a more tangible concept once her husband jokingly told her he was “‘sick of our house looking like a department store.’”
Smoot's family has been incredibly supportive of her venture. In fact, she and her family completed much of the renovations for Cricket’s themselves this past summer.
“July was a very busy month for us,” she said..
DePauw students have also been very supportive of Cricket’s.
“I think there’s definitely a market for [a boutique] in Greencastle,” explains senior Madison Manning, “because there’s nowhere else to buy clothes like that around here.”
Cricket’s is virtually the only clothing store in Greencastle, which bodes well for its success in the community. “
It will be good for Greencastle, especially the more [Smoot] develops her inventory,” Manning states.
Manning explains that Smoot has been consulting with DePauw students in order to determine the types of clothing that would draw consumers in to Cricket’s.
One of these students, Senior Eileen Wilson, stated, “Lauren [Smoot] is dedicated to finding cute, good quality clothing that DePauw students will really enjoy.”
Smoot says she has also already spoken to a number of students who are interested in working at Cricket’s while they are on campus.
The new boutique could also be a way to bridge the gap between the Greencastle population and DePauw students.
“I think it’s sometimes difficult to strike a balance because so much of our community revolves around DePauw,” Smoot explained, “Those not as involved with DePauw can’t see everything it does for the community.”
Smoot believes that Cricket’s selection of children’s clothes along with more adult clothing and accessories will be a good way to bring the two entities together.
“[Cricket’s] is a place to gather and have some fun,” Smoot stated.
Plus, anyone who presents a student ID at checkout will receive 10 percent off his or her purchase.