Hazel’s Attic, a new boutique in Brookings, offers shoppers “the perfect place to blend trendy, must-have fashion with a cozy, vintage feel,” according to its website. 

The boutique, owned by Alyssa Winter, sits at 219 First St. S., alongside Winter’s mother’s vintage store, Rabbit on the Rail.

Winter, a recent Lake Area Technical Institute graduate, officially opened the business on May 31 and held the ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 3. The boutique was named after her middle name, Hazel. 

Winter described the style of her boutique as, “Trendy, western but also vintage in one.”

The store has a variety of items and styles to choose from and includes a gameday section for SDSU students. Options for dresses, denim or casual outfits are available. All items are picked out by Winter and are available in store and online. 

Morgan Gerber, a customer at the boutique, said it had a, “Cute and super fun vibe, a little chaotic, but interesting.” 

Winter says she is always open to suggestions for items she stocks at her store. 

Walking around her store, customers can see the effort put into every piece, especially when they find out Winter also redid all the furniture in her shop. The pieces are all refurbished from her mom’s antique shop. The furniture is on sale in store only.

The store seems to hold a story within its walls and from talking with Winter and her mother, Michelle, customers can learn that’s the truth. Rabbit on the Rail was opened by Michelle Winter in June 2021.

Alyssa Winter said she has been interested in fashion since she was a little girl, and a big part of that inspiration was her sister. After shopping with her often when they were young, Alyssa decided that having a boutique was her ultimate dream. 

She started as a cosmetology student at Lake Area, but soon changed her major and graduated with a degree in business management. 

“In college, I had three jobs to save up for this,” Winter said. 

Originally, Hazel’s Attic was not supposed to be in her mother’s antique shop. It was set to be a mobile boutique, but when that didn’t work out, her mom offered her the spot to begin her business.

“You know when you’re just starting out you don’t just have money flowing,” Michelle Winter said. “So, I was like, ‘Heck yeah. Why not?’”

The businesses sharing a space seems to positively affect one another.

“I feel like with me posting, a lot of girls come in here and don’t even realize, ‘Oh, the vintage is over here,’” Alyssa Winter said.

Michelle Winter said: “Kids your age are kind of starting to get into vintage-antique stuff.”

Alyssa Winter encourages people who aspire to open a small business like she did.

“If you want something, you just have to work for it,” she said. “I worked my tail off for this. Full send and follow your dreams.”