STATE CENTER — Looking for that shopping experience that features local merchandise, American-made goods, nothing mass-produced and with a boutique vibe? So were mother-daughter entrepreneurs Marcy and Campbell Thomas. That’s why they’re launching a new store called Heritage Clothing & Decor, 120 W. Main St., State Center. Its soft opening will be on Thursday to coincide with trunk or treating on Main Street.

Opening a business in State Center made sense to a family that has farmed in the area for generations.

“Campbell has been showing cattle since she was nine years old and she is 19…our son Brayden is 22 and he works for us full-time and also has his own cattle and agriculture things he does. They’re sixth generation farmers and seventh generation State Centerans,” Marcy said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own boutique. It’s always been in the background in my mind.”

Marcy, a native of Marshalltown who moved a lot growing up due to her father being in the military, has years of retail experience and she’s managed clothing stores. In the past she worked as an assistant buyer for Coach House Gifts. She lived in Arizona for a while then in her mid-20s moved back to Iowa to attend ISU, later teaching housing and child development classes.

“I was actually an adjunct instructor. I had a full-time position with Iowa State Extension at the university,” she noted. “I have my master’s in Family and Consumer Sciences…I worked on a grant that worked with farm families dealing with disabilities. And so from that, I ended up going into more of a teaching mode. Then I ended up staying home for a couple of years with my kids, and then ended up deciding I really want to get back into teaching.”

At West Marshall, she taught Family and Consumer Sciences for two years.

“And then at that point, my husband Kent started an agricultural business in addition to the farming, and someone needed to do the bookkeeping and all the other stuff that goes with all of it,” she said. “That was in 2010, and I’ve been doing the books for us ever since.”

Originally, the family envisioned starting a mobile business but when the former site of the Pink Petal became available, they decided brick and mortar was the way to begin the journey. The store’s name and logo is a nod to the late Joyce Thomas, Marcy’s mother-in-law and Campbell’s grandmother who was known to sport an Amish straw hat. Clothing for all sizes and ages, plus new and repurposed home decor is what they will sell.

“Campbell’s the more creative one,” Marcy said. “She paints, she draws, she does a lot of great things, and she’s the one that will repurpose some furniture, but we might have some antiques in there, repurposed furniture, new items of furnishings. We’ll also have new home decor, seasonal stuff. So it’s going to be kind of like a little mosh of everything in home decor.”

Campbell added that the store’s slogan is “Our Heritage, your next Vice.”

They have trusted sources they secure inventory from and hope to make upcoming buying trips to major markets such as Dallas and Atlanta. If it has a modern farmhouse vibe, you’ll likely find it at Heritage Clothing & Decor.

“To fit in with that heritage and that tie to our community, we’re trying to get as many vendors from the local area as possible to buy from and have in our store,” Marcy said.

Note, this will not be a consignment store.

State Center candle maker Leslie Streeter of Hometown Glow Candle Co. will have her products in the store.

“I’m excited to see how it goes. She’s getting like nine different scents,” Streeter said of the arrangement.

Marcy added that other products would come from Iowa in general and the majority of clothing merchandise will be U.S.-made. Clothes will span sizes extra small to 3X and possibly larger, to meet the needs of those who struggle to find plus size garments. Marcy said the goal is to train her daughter in the running of the shop so she can take it over one day. Campbell likes to accessorize with cowboy boots and animal prints.

“Fashion will never be understated and your home will always be filled with love,” Campbell said. “May many more traditions begin, and heritage be passed on.”

A grand opening will take place in late November. Regular business hours after Thursday are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Eventually, people will be able to order online.