SHELBY – Revitalization is coming to Shelby’s empty storefronts along Main Street. The Shelby Foundation is happy to add Olive & Oak Company to the business index of that project.
Olive & Oak is a boutique with locations already operating at 167 N. Main St. in Fredericktown and 271 Cline Ave. in Mansfield. Its newest location will open in Spring 2027 at 52 Main St. in Shelby.
“The work that the foundation and everyone is doing in downtown Shelby is amazing,” said Amy Klupp, owner of Olive & Oak.
The boutique is a family affair. Klupp operates the shop alongside her two daughters-in-law, Jessica and Katie Klupp.
A downtown fixer-upper project
“(Shelby Foundation board member Tim Tarvin) came in … and he proposed the vision for what downtown’s going to be,” Jessica said. “It’s almost like it’s going to be a destination place … and they wanted a really nice boutique to come in down there.
“Just working with them … and seeing the building. It was everything we envisioned from the beginning.”
The Shelby Foundation started purchasing and rehabbing unused buildings in the city three years ago. Some of the structures were in “really poor condition,” according to Shelby Foundation board member Carrie Kemerer.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Kemerer said. “Because of the condition of the buildings, it’s taking a long time to get them structurally sound … Now we can see into the future and know that in the next six months, into next summer, we’re going to have tenants in these buildings, which is really exciting.”
Family and faith
Olive & Oak’s family core has allowed them to have a unified vision. The owners put faith first, and have a section of their Mansfield location dedicated to Christian-themed clothes.
“God is first all the time,” Jessica said. “I think (the reason) why we are so successful is because we put it in his hands.”
The Shelby Foundation also saw the company’s family operation as a bonus.
“It’s not just one person owning a boutique,” Kemerer said. “It was an attractive piece for the foundation to know that we were working with an entire group of people versus just one individual owner.
“What was also attractive to the foundation is that they had been in business for five years (and) that they hadn’t just opened up one shop.”
A different look and place
Olive & Oak’s Mansfield location is one the owners consider “non-traditional.”
At 271 Cline Ave., the boutique shares its building with a dentistry and skincare practice. The Shelby location will feature a larger storefront with big, street-facing windows and a more open layout.
“It’s our dream,” Amy said. “A downtown shop with a big display window where people will be walking by. We stopped at the coffee shop, Milk & Honey, and everybody was just so nice and smiled. We’re so excited.”
The boutique caters to women, with clothes for just about every style and generation.
“We have a little bit of everything for everyone,” Amy said. “A granddaughter and a grandmother can come in shopping. Everybody in-between can come in shopping.”
The owners treat shoppers like family, offering advice for a more personal experience.
“I’m excited to also get to know that community … and take on the women,” Jessica said. “We have what’s called the Olive & Oak experience. It’s where you come in, you get that one-on-one attention and style advice, and just you develop so many friendships.
“I’ve developed so many friendships (through Olive & Oak), so I’m excited to develop that even further when we get to Shelby.”
