IT’S JUST what you need: one-on-one time with your daughter as a “Mommy and Me” day. You want something special, but you’re not coming up with anything nearby. You’re hoping something in your social media feeds will inspire you. A gaggle of glamming girls below pink, purple, and gold streamers slows your scroll. Hats as unique as the smiles beneath them beam back at you.
The twinkle in their eyes sparkles brighter than the disco balls above them. And the best part is you discover it’s not a boutique in an hour-away mall. It’s The Babe Shop, located here in Lincoln County.
Jessica Tietgens knows how hard it is to find unique activities for little girls. Her personal quest for such an experience inspired this dreamy treat for girls, and the idea of filling that void took shape. More and more ideas followed. Eventually, a specialty boutique on Petersburg’s square offering products and services for an unforgettable and magical experience opened its doors.
“My mind began to think of all the things [I could do], and I had to narrow it down to the 16-foot hat bar, then all the shopping options would be a little bonus,” she said. But what’s a hat bar? It’s personalized fun in the shape of a hat. Well, not just a hat. Shoppers (or a party of them) decorate their own fedoras, trucker hats, crossbody bags, bows, toboggans, or mini Stanley cups. There’s something for every style: cowgirls, Swifties, athletes, princesses, and girlie girls, to name a few.
And the fun’s not over when decorating at the bar ends. Shop the store’s evolving inventory of candy, bags, bath and body products, make-up, stationery items, and accessories. Capture the memories with photos on the mini stage or in front of the painted backdrop.
“At The Babe Co. you can walk right in and join the hat bar, with no appointment needed. We have a friendship bracelet bar and a karaoke stage that’s been a lot of fun for all ages,” explained Jessica. “Our retail area for shopping is growing. We offer clothes in sizes 4-16 but plan to expand that very soon. And you can’t leave without having some fun at the free glitter bar!”
The Babe Shop is a joy-infused experience with a buzzing energy that meets you at the door. The shop offers party packages, perfect for celebrating birthdays. Choose what your group will decorate and how many will attend, and leave the rest to Jessica. You only need to plan to snap lots of photos because the memories they stir will be timeless.
“The little — and big — girls all light up, and it’s so sweet every time they walk in for the first time. Some little ones just need a minute to take in all the pink. I feel like everyone is enjoying the offerings and [is] surprised that it’s expanding as fast as it has been,” she said.
It’s great to see the selections constantly growing and changing with the seasons. And even better, there’s something for everyone, including moms! “We are actually launching a T-shirt bar [where] you’ll choose your own tee and pick the design you want, and we’ll press it for you,” Jessica said. “I hope this is something new and exciting. We’ll have ‘Mama & Mini’ T-shirt options, BFF, some fun smiley faces, and tons of holidays!”
Little shoppers huddle in the aisles, the baskets on their arms filled with carefully chosen items to coordinate with their favorite things. Even someone walking in for the first time can see and feel how thrilled everyone is to be there. Jessica loves it, too.
“It makes my heart melt. It feels like I’ve completed the vision that I was shooting for.”
There’s shopping — the kind where you spend a half day or more wandering in and out of stores, hoping to find something unique, memorable, whimsical, or personalized. Then there’s the kind that defies the term “shopping” because it’s more like an immersive experience. That’s what The Babe Shop brings to Lincoln County!
Jessica couldn’t agree more. “I would say the experience and the hands-on fun make it worth the trip. As we like to say, ‘It’s every little babe’s dream store.’” It’s sugar and spice and everything nice. The Babe Shop knows what little girls are made of. GN
