A new hip children’s clothing store is about to join the ranks of other local favorites in The Heights. Mollie Yoder decided to open up Bologna Joe’s when she noticed a lack of locally minded and trendy children’s clothing stores in Little Rock. Bologna Joe’s will be located at 5915 Kavanaugh Blvd. in the former Steamroller Blues shop between Proposals and Old Heights Corner Store, with grand opening festivities beginning the week of March 1.
The story behind the store’s fun name is more of a culmination of childhood nicknames. Yoder has six brothers and sisters and her dad gave them all nicknames growing up.
“A lot of these nicknames morphed into other nicknames,” she says. “My brother Joe’s name went from Joe Bellino, after the football player, to Bologna Joe. Not sure how or why, but it stuck.”
Bologna Joe’s will bring an LA casual “California cool” vibe to children’s fashion in The Heights. Yoder says the store will carry graphic tees, joggers, hoodies and fun casual clothes for both boys and girls sizes 2 -14. Hudson, LA Made, Chaser and Blank are just a few of the lines that Bologna Joe’s will offer. Yoder will also carry designs from local artists and over 70 percent of the boutique’s lines will be made in America.
Inside the store, there’s a mural that wraps around the store created by local artist Layet Johnson. The windows have also been turned into installation pieces by another local artist, Lily Darragh.
Mollie Yoder caught the fashion bug while working for Connie Fails, a local fashion designer and store owner. While working for Fails, Yoder learned about merchandising, fashion design and how to buy at markets.
“I decided at some point while working with her that one day I wanted to start my own brand and have a store,” Yoder says.
After working for Fails, Yoder moved into accounting, but never lost the desire to work with creative minds. She worked as director of finance and operations for The Independent, a men’s luxury clothing store. Yoder owns another company apart from Bologna Joe’s, Blackbean Accounting, which has given her the opportunity to work with clothing stores, locally owned boutiques, designers and artists.
“I have such admiration and jealousy for the creative work they get to do on a daily basis,” Yoder says. “Although I am successful and content with Blackbean Accounting, I needed a creative outlet. [Bologna Joe’s] really has been a culmination of everything I have had my hand in my whole adult life — accounting, small business management, buying, merchandising, art and fashion.”
Yoder fell in love with The Heights area for Bologna Joe’s because of the strong community support for the local businesses in the area. Yoder wants Bologna Joe’s to be about more than the clothing. She has installed a Pac-Man/Galaga arcade machine from the 70s, a basketball goal and a TV room in the back with Netflix for customers to take a moment to unwind while shopping. Yoder has also created space in the store for an Instagram photo studio for the kids to get their picture taken by staff social media photographer, Lucy Baehr Photography.
“I honestly have loved every step of this process,” Yoder says. “I just can’t believe I’m getting the opportunity to do this. My kids and husband, friends and family have helped and supported in so many ways. I can’t wait to be able to stand with them and say, ‘Look what we all did.’ It’s like working on a piece of art — the process in itself is the fruit.”
Enjoy sneak peeks from behind the scenes on social media. Follow Bologna Joe’s on Facebook and Instagram as we await the March 1 opening date.