Melendez Enjoys Being Her Own Boss

Kathy Melendez of Noel, who opened Second Glance Clothing Boutique on Main Street in May, is enjoying being her own boss.

The store has new and used clothing at reasonable prices.

"It's just something that I've always wanted to do," she said. "I've always wanted to have a clothes store. I told my daughter it's better to be your own boss. I've worked for a lot of people."

Her main reason for having a business venture, she said, is to pay for her daughter's college expenses. Her husband told her she didn't have to work, she added, but she chose to do this to help with her daughter's education.

"This money doesn't go for me to have fancy, expensive things," she said.

One benefit of being her own boss, she said, is being able to express her Christianity at work.

"I can play Christian music and have my one-on-one time with God, and nobody can tell me not to," she said. "I think the best part of it is I get to see so many different people and I can share my experiences. God has done so much for me, and I love to share that.

"Four years ago I gave my life to Christ. God answered some prayers. I didn't believe God existed. I remember praying, 'God, if you exist, you'll move in this situation.' He did. I used to be on meth; I used to drink and party all the time. I didn't care about things that should have been important, like my children. Once he got ahold of me, that was it."

Melendez credits God with leading her to her shop.

"God showed me a crooked road all the way to the front of my building, and I quit my job that day," she said.

She said she genuinely enjoys her work.

"This is not work to me. I like to shop. I like clothes," she said. People come in and ask her how pieces look together, and she helps them put an outfit together complete with jewelry.

"I get a lot more enjoyment out of it than people think," she said.

A lot of her merchandise comes from donations, while other items she buys from people or places, she said. Being the owner, Melendez can decide exactly how generous she wants to be with her prices.

"If somebody comes in and they don't have something, I'm like, 'Take it.' If I can bless somebody with an item of clothing or a pair of shoes, that's what we're here for."

She tries to have a sale every day, she said.

"I get pretty good deals on everything I buy. I try to keep it reasonable."

She noted she has five children and was a single mom for a long time, and she had to go to thrift stores and struggle to make ends meet.

"I've worked at a chicken plant. I've seen the struggle. It's a struggle when you've got more than one kid," she said.

Second Glance Clothing Boutique is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Melendez said she would like to open another store or two, but "It depends on where God takes me."