MONROE DEEN APPAREL OFFERS AFTER-HOURS SHOPPING DOWNTOWN
Monroe Deen Apparel
618-731-2509
317 E. Broadway, Centralia, IL
Since opening in The Commonwealth earlier this year, Monroe Deen Apparel has solidified itself as a go-to for fashionable women’s clothing and custom services.
According to owner Nicole Lyons, the successful boutique was born out of her lifelong passion for clothes.
“This was all started out of my obsession for clothing. I love feeling cute and confident in what I have, yet comfortable. This is a women’s boutique, but we do not exclude men or children,” Lyons said. “We do custom apparel that is not just limited to shirts. We have a commercial printer, and everything that we print is done in-house.”
Lyons added that she values having the ability to shop downtown after normal business hours, and that she’s tailored Monroe Deen’s hours to those who shop after they get off work.
“I don’t love that I can’t come downtown and shop after 5:00 PM,” Lyons continued. “I get off work at 5:00 PM. So, I want to cater to the people who are like that. To the busy people who have six million things going and can’t get out to shop until after work hours.”
Lyons said she originally started the business at home in her family’s garage, adding that the work became so busy that she ultimately decided to get a brick-and-mortar location.
“We start this in our home garage. I bought a commercial printing machine, had it in my garage, and at the time we had zero space,” Lyons recalled. “I got to the point where I was constantly trying to deliver [product] and meet up with people. It just got too hectic.”
Though she had originally hoped to relocate to Centralia’s shopping center, Lyons said she later reconsidered after witnessing the developments being made by entrepreneurs in Centralia’s downtown.
“Seeing what the Cooneys were doing and what the Fleemans were doing was inspiring,” she said. “I knew that downtown was the heartbeat of the town and where I wanted to be. I wanted to be somewhere where Shop Local is very seen.”
Lyons said the community response to Monroe Deen thus far has been overwhelmingly positive, and that she has enjoyed ingraining her business into the community.
“I love creating things for groups of all different ages. It brings me joy to be able to cater to local groups and know that I have not only created something that they enjoy, but something they are comfortable and confident in wearing,” she said, “Being able to partner retail with the Balloon Fest this year was also a really cool experience.”
Lyons noted that she is excited to play a role in the revitalization of downtown Centralia, and that even if she didn’t have Monroe Deen, she would find a way to help serve and better her community.
“It’s an honor to be part of what’s happening in downtown,” said Lyons. “I’m a small fish in all of this, but I am super thankful to the Fleemans for making this such a beautiful space.”
“I will never not be involved in what’s going on here, and I will always be that person who is trying to help better their community,” she continued. “I’m not originally from Centralia, but I married an Orphan and I’m raising my family here. It’s so cool to know that I had a small hand in [downtown’s revitalization] and that my kids will get to enjoy and experience it in the years to come.”
Monroe Deen is located in the Commonwealth building in the 300 block of E. Broadway, along with fellow local businesses, Trends Dress Shop and Go Gurl Beauty Supply. Owned by Tlyer Fleeman, The Commonwealth will soon house a fourth business, open second-floor apartments and reopen the historic Green Grill restaurant.
