Elizabeth and Sharon Wilson have purchased Kidstop, a long-standing children’s boutique in Owensboro, from longtime owners Jeanne and Greg Clark. The store, located at 2660 Frederica St., has served the community for nearly 40 years, and the Wilsons plan to continue its tradition of personalized customer service while expanding its offerings.
Elizabeth Wilson is an Owensboro native and the current owner of Julep Home and Gift. She said the opportunity arose when the Clarks decided to step away from the business.
“The timing was just right, and everything sort of fell into place. It felt like a natural progression for us — a no-brainer,” Wilson said. “We cater to so many couples with wedding registries, and we get really close to them and their families. It’s not long after that many of those couples start expecting babies, so it just made sense.”
Julep has a gift and wedding registry boutique located nearby at 2738 Frederica St. Wilson hopes to expand on that at Kidstop while continuing to provide its familiar children’s apparel and adding expanded selections of baby gear, such as strollers, car seats, and baby furniture.
“We want to provide a full baby registry experience so families don’t have to travel out of town for quality products,” Wilson said. “People are going to Louisville or Nashville for strollers and car seats, and that’s silly when we can offer it here in Owensboro.”
Wilson emphasized that the store’s success has always been rooted in its customer service.
“It’s not just the clothes — it’s the entire shopping experience,” Wilson said. “The Clarks provided excellent customer service and built strong relationships with their customers. That’s what we plan to continue: making sure families can trust us and know we’re here to help.”
Kidstop will remain open until January 18 before closing for 10 days while Wilson and her team update the inventory and prepare for a grand reopening in early February. The store’s largest size range will continue to be newborn to size 14 for both boys and girls, catering to infants through early adolescence.
Sharon Wilson, co-owner of Julep, shared her excitement about the acquisition.
“We are so honored to be able to carry on the legacy of Kidstop in Owensboro,” Sharon said. “Kidstop has been a cornerstone of this community for nearly 40 years; I’ve shopped there for my children and now my grandchildren. We know that shopping for children’s items can be a special experience, and we’re here to ensure that experience is as joyful and seamless as possible.”
Clark said she feels confident passing the store on to Wilson and her mother, Sharon Wilson.
“My husband, Greg, and I bought Kidstop from the original owners, Vivian and Jim Montgomery, who opened the store in 1986. My daughters, Elizabeth Johnson and Cecilia Strawn, and I took over in January 2016,” Clark said. “Kidstop has always been special to me, even before we purchased it. I shopped there for my children when they were young and have done the same for our grandchildren. I’ve just always loved the children’s apparel industry.”
Clark added that the store’s long history speaks to the community’s support.
“I truly believe Kidstop is a special place in our community, thriving for almost 40 years,” she said. “We have loved seeing first, second, and third generations of families shop with us. We were blessed to have the best and most loyal employees work with us as well. I will miss so many sweet faces that we’ve grown to love.”
While she said she will miss the store, Clark said the time was right to step back and focus on family.
“I’m excited to spend more time with my husband, our 12 grandchildren, and be more available to travel with our family,” Clark said. “I’m so excited to be passing the store on to Sharon and Elizabeth Wilson, as we know they will continue to provide beautiful things for our customers while bringing new and exciting items to the store.”
Wilson said updates will be shared on Kidstop’s Facebook and Instagram pages, with plans for a grand opening in early February.
