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Date: 9/26/2023
CHICOPEE — Downtown Chicopee has welcomed another new business with the recent opening of Moda Mia, a women’s clothing boutique.
Since Johanna Maldonado was a little girl, her dream was to open a boutique. On Sept. 9, she did just that, with the opening of her storefront at 26 Center St.
From casual wear to business attire, items for date nights or a girl’s night out, Moda Mia offers a variety of options for women, including accessories from local businesses.
Maldonado shared that she started this business last year, primarily selling items on social media such as Facebook and Instagram, along with attending many pop-up shops and vendor events in the area.
Maldonado, who lives in Springfield, said she was not actively looking for a location, but heard from her friend Victor at Goodworks Coffee House that there was space available a few doors down from him.
After contacting the landlord and visiting the space, Maldonado said it was the “perfect” place for Moda Mia with two “beautiful” windows in front that she thought would be ideal for manikins and other items to be placed for passersby.
Since opening, Maldonado said business has been “awesome” and traffic flow has been increasing.
She shared that the official ribbon cutting ceremony was “amazing” with many who showed up to support her.
Maldonado added that the support her business has received has been “overwhelming.”
Every Saturday, Maldonado hosts a “Small Business Saturday” and invites locals to set up a table inside her boutique. For instance, she recently had a woman selling permanent jewelry. When people came in to buy the jewelry, she said many also purchased items from her boutique.
Each week, Maldonado will post which business will be there. At press time, she said she is booked through December.
Along with Maldonado, she has two other employees. She said she is looking for a “per diem type shift” — to assist part time when her employees are unavailable.
Moda Mia is open Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Moda Mia can be found on Facebook and Instagram.