When she realized that there weren’t any stores in Joplin carrying brands like these, she decided to make it her mission to bring them here by opening up her own shop. With her buying experience and fashion savvy, along with the help of her parents Tony and Carla, Kirsten opened Lennon’s Boutique in August 2018, and began introducing the latest trends from premium clothing brands to shoppers on Joplin’s Main Street. In July 2020, Lennon’s relocated to a larger retail space at the corner of Second Street and Joplin Avenue. The shop’s interior is sleek and modern, punctuated with flirty touches, like fluffy flokati-covered benches in soft creams and pinks. But the first thing I noticed was the large portrait of Beatles’ singer John Lennon giving the peace sign. It was at that very moment when I also realized that there was a John Lennon song emanating from the speakers.Someone must be a huge fan.That someone is Carla, Kirsten’s mom. She’d always liked John Lennon and even hoped Kirsten would choose his name for a baby someday. Kirsten did, in a way. She used it to name her retail baby, Lennon’s Boutique. (Smart move, Kirsten – you made your mom happy and now the pressure’s off!)

Walking through Lennon’s is like flipping through the pages of Vogue magazine (or scrolling through its Instagram equivalent), with high-fashion brands like Cupcakes and Cashmere (a line by fashion blogger Emily Schumer), the Bohemian brand Free People, French Connection, Lavender Brown, and others. You’ll find chic dress and skirt options for a night out, as well as comfy tees for lounging around, like this one by Chaser. Agolde and Citizens of Humanity are two of the premium denim lines sold at Lennon’s. Lennon’s shoe nook boasts an impressive collection of footwear from Sam Edelman, Dolce Vita, Jeffrey Campbell, Chinese Laundry, and more. No outfit is complete without accessories, and Lennon’s offers ABLE handbags and jewelry to help you add that final touch. ABLE is a company whose mission it is to empower women in Ethiopia, Mexico, and Peru to learn skills, like making jewelry and leather goods, which enable them to earn money and end the cycle of poverty in their communities.

And no trip to Lennon’s is complete without saying hi to Bella, the shop dog. She even has her portrait hanging on the wall, painted by Arkansas-based Soulsby Art (who also did the John Lennon painting). Seeing Bella’s sweet face will bring a smile to yours – that’s a treasure you’ll find exclusively at Lennon’s. She even has her portrait hanging on the wall, painted by Arkansas-based Soulsby Art (who also did the John Lennon painting).

Lennon’s Boutique is located at 124 S. Joplin Ave.

Click here to visit its Facebook page.

To read more about my adventures in the area, visit JoplinMOLife.com.