MANKATO — A new specialty retail store has opened downtown, offering expectant mothers a dedicated shopping destination for maternity and nursing wear.
Mommy + Me Co. opened its storefront July 9, transforming from an online-only business that began a year ago.
The store occupies a retail space on Front Street, providing a selection of maternity clothing and accessories. The owner, Katelyn Groen, who previously worked at a children’s consignment shop, recognized a significant local market need after repeatedly encountering pregnant customers seeking specialized clothing options.
“I started online in August of last year, and it was going good, but I kind of wanted people to be able to come in and feel the fabrics and be able to try things on. So that’s what kind of gave me the idea of doing something in-store,” she said.
Currently operating as a solo business, the store offers merchandise Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Groen said the store allows customers to physically browse and try on maternity clothing, addressing the limitations of online-only shopping.
She said her favorite parts so far are “being able to see the foot traffic downtown, watching people come in and look around and get any feedback that they give me.”
Her sister Taylor Groen has been a support system and said her sister’s long-held dream has now become a physical reality.
“It’s something that she’s been talking about for probably the last five years,” she said. “It’s been really cool to see the brainstorming and the future planning. Now all of a sudden, here she is with her physical store in Mankato. So it’s been a roller coaster and exciting.”
The store’s product line includes a range of maternity wear, with labor and delivery nursing items emerging as an early customer favorite. Groen said she hopes to continue expansion of inventory and provide a fun shopping experience for local expecting mothers.
With the nearest maternity retailer in the Twin Cities, the store serves the community by offering convenient, accessible maternity clothing options. Groen said the initial customer attraction has come through local advertising and word-of-mouth referrals.
“I’m just so proud of her for going for it,” Taylor said. “She really kind of went all in with no idea how this was all going to turn out, and it’s something she’s proud of.”
To check it out, visit the storefront at 626 Front St. in Mankato or mommymeco.store.