Lovely Ladies Boutique, a women’s clothing store, will be opening Jan. 14 in Falconer. An official grand opening will be held to usher in the owner’s second small business opening in less than 12 months. Joyce and Dennis Sheehan have operated Falconer Antiques and Coins since May and looks to bring Falconer a new shopping option this month. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

FALCONER — Less than 12 months after Joyce and Dennis Sheehan opened their first Falconer business, the duo are opening a second shop next door. The two believe small businesses are on the rise, so with two businesses prepared for operation they believe the ventures can find success.

The new store, Lovely Ladies Boutique, is located at 31 E. Main St., and is connected to Falconer Antiques And Coins, which opened in May. A grand opening for Lovely Ladies Boutique will be held on Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.

The store will offer ladies apparel, jewelry and some cosmetics, but primarily clothing and women’s accessories.

“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Joyce Sheehan, owner of both Falconer businesses, about her newest venture. “I’ve always said that someday I would do it and so this (space) was here when I bought the building and (we) didn’t use it, so I did.”

The couple purchased the building in March and opened the first business, Falconer Antiques and Coins, in May. While the original business operates in one section of the building, an empty space was left unused on the other side. About two months ago, Sheehan said she officially decided to get serious about opening the women’s store.

The space occupied by Falconer Antiques and Coins used to be a bar, but the unused space was formerly an apartment. Dennis Sheehan said a lot of work went into renovating the new space including roof and ceiling repair.

The two originally wanted to rent to an outside business, but no one leased it – so Joyce Sheehan took it. But for her, the new business is timely as she predicts a trend of small business shopping is about to return.

“I’m hoping that there’s a market for it,” she said of a women’s clothing store. “There’s not a lot in Falconer, (but) there’s a lot (of stores) dying out in the malls and I believe people are going to start shopping small – (at) small businesses.”

Dennis Sheehan, who was moving items into place in the new store, agreed.

“Small businesses are coming back,” he said.

Dennis Sheehan said the elderly population doesn’t want to shop at bigger stores or at malls. He believes there’s a market for Lovely Ladies Boutique.

Dennis Sheehan is retired, but operates the antique store as the manager. Joyce Sheehan still works in home health care, but will begin managing the ladies apparel store later this month.

“I’ve been telling everybody I talk to that it’s going to be opening soon. I just say, ‘come done and try it out,'” Joyce Sheehan said. “There’s a little variety. Give small shopping a try.”

The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached at 708-6601.