Buoy 22 to specialize in Men’s Apparel

Buoy 22 is gearing up to be the latest addition to Main Street here in Gloucester, offering a selection of men’s apparel with a few accessories thrown in.

For Melissa Shackelford and Wesley Robbins, this store has been a very long time coming. Born and raised local, opening a boutique is childhood dream come true for Melissa. Her heart set on a particular storefront, Shackelford spent years keeping an eye on 6628 Main Street until it finally came into her hands when another buyer’s plans fell through.

After years of waiting, setting up shop has sent them into a flurry of activity. Shackelford and her mother-in-law flew to Orlando days after signing for the property to look for wares. Though it was initially imagined as a boutique for children’s clothes, plans for the store shifted when they noticed a lack of options for men’s wear in the area. Even though the store will carry primarily men’s clothes, they’ll have something for everyone.

“I’m super excited and nervous at the same time.” Shackelford said about the upcoming opening. While they’re currently putting the finishing touches on their store’s layout, the biggest hurdles to jump before opening are gathering inventory and the shipping it requires. The task takes them from place to place, visiting product shows and other events to select merchandise in time for their opening in late March. The details remain up in the air for a grand opening in April, but the store should be open to the public on March 20. Robbins has found the experience fulfilling as well.

“Seeing some of your designs coming to life that you had as far as your displays and how the clothes and the product actually look on the shelves, and in place in the store, so that’s certainly to this point that’s been the most rewarding point to it,” he said.

While they still have some work to do, Shackelford and Robbins look forward to serving customers and meeting new people as they open their store to the people of Gloucester.