Consider the opening of Flirt a sign. Literally.
Owner Jenny Gehl, previously a co-owner of Gossip in Mequon, moved to the Third Ward after her previous store was literally struck by lightning, and opened the new boutique just a few weeks ago at 317 N. Broadway.
"This is such a great part of town," says Gehl. "My real passion is working with and interacting with the people in the shop, and the people in this neighborhood are really friendly."
The shop is fashioned with periwinkle clothing chests, twinkling chandeliers and iconic Cream City brick. Gehl's clothes encircle the room, organized by item style, so it's effortless to find what you're looking for, but the quantity is not overwhelming as can be the case in many stores.
The Third Ward has definitely become a home to many new shops in the past several years, but it's not just the locals that stop by for retail therapy. The proximity to Downtown, hotels and several of the tourist attractions the city has to offer means many out-of-towners visit the Third Ward for shopping and dining, says Gehl. She says she regularly has customers from Chicago and even a handful from other countries.
From formal cocktail dresses and blouses, to jeans and comfy sweaters, Flirt offers a bit of everything in all price ranges. Gehl says she wanted to have on hand a little of something for everyone and she keeps styles fresh and limited by only buying a select number of items -- and she buys them only once.
"I might buy things in another color, but I never want to have my customers see themselves coming and going," says Gehl.
Flirt is open Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Alissa grew up on the near west side of Madison and had childhood dreams of being a veterinarian. Instead she moved to Milwaukee to attend college and attained a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from UW-Milwaukee. Previously an advertising copywriter and a marketing specialist, Alissa always preferred the writing aspect of her career.
An animal lover, a shoe lover and a white wine lover, she now resides on the much beloved East Side of Milwaukee in what she describes as an ancient apartment building full of character, but lacking sufficient electrical outlets and the convenience of an elevator.
To some she comes across as a shy wall flower, to those that know her much better she is a social butterfly, usually overdressed and wearing inappropriately uncomfortable shoes for nearly every occasion. Either way you choose to see her, Alissa has a strong desire to bring awareness to the social issues in our city while maintaining a sense of humor about herself and surroundings.
