What was once an aging storefront on Madison Avenue has been completely transformed into a bright, welcoming space ready to serve the Iola community once again.
MJ’s Boutique & Consignments, 113 W. Madison Ave., is preparing to open its doors later this month after nearly a year of extensive renovation and restoration.
Owner Michelle Jackson said the inspiration for the business came from seeing firsthand how vital affordable clothing options are for those in need.
“When the previous consignment store announced it was closing, I knew that was going to hurt our community,” Jackson said. “So, I said, ‘I’m going to go buy it, because we need this in this community.’”
The mission behind the store is rooted in helping others by keeping prices reasonable at a time when “everything’s skyrocketing nowadays,” Jackson noted.
As part of that mission, she’s also introducing a new way to help community members in need through a voucher system. Jackson is partnering with local businesses that will keep the vouchers on hand for those who need assistance. Individuals can pick up a voucher at participating businesses and use it at MJ’s Boutique & Consignments to purchase clothing.
“We will have a community account where those interested in donating to this cause can contribute monetary gifts or clothing items,” Jackson explained. “The only stipulation is that the proceeds go directly to those who are in need.”
The shop today bears little resemblance to the building Jackson and her partner, Kenneth Lankard, encountered nearly a year ago.
“We totally gutted this store,” Jackson said. “It’s taken almost a year.”
Lankard, whom Jackson affectionately calls her “silent partner,” led much of the renovation work himself — along with help from Jackson’s brother. Together, they tackled what turned out to be a major rebuild from the ground up.
“There was paneling all over the walls, and the floors were crooked,” Lankard recalled. “We started to fix it, and about two and a half months later, we realized we had to replace the whole floor.”
The process was painstaking. Beneath the store was a crawl space, and it took 80 tons of gravel — wheelbarrowed in by hand through the winter — to fill and level the area before a new six-inch concrete floor could be poured.
“That was quite the endeavor, just the floor part of it,” Lankard said with a laugh.
From there, they installed all-new electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, and added insulation throughout, including in the new front façade. The entire storefront was replaced, now featuring modern double doors for easier access and energy efficiency.
“We replaced it with a two-by-six wall and insulated it, hoping that will cut down on the heating and cooling bills,” Lankard said.
The shop is also fully ADA-compliant, with a newly built wheelchair-accessible restroom, ensuring all customers can shop comfortably.
