Investing in where your roots are planted

"Why would you want to do that?"

"Oh, really?" (insert fake smile and head nod)

"You couldn't pay me to move back."

These are some of the common responses I received back in the spring of 2008. I was 23 years old and getting ready to graduate from Columbia College Chicago. The world was "in the palm of my hands" so to speak and I was on the brink of having to decide how the next chapter of my life would play out. As intimidating and daunting as that sounds, the decision for me ended up coming quite naturally. I was closing the "city girl" chapter and moving back to my hometown. That was that.

I should probably set the scene a little better before I continue. It was the early 2000s (cue the sequinned crochet purses and layers upon layers of shirts). The romantic idea of moving home and revitalizing your small town hadn't quite come to fruition just yet. In fact, Ben and Erin Napier were probably in the midst of making life-changing decisions just like me, and it would be years before we even met Chip and Joanna Gaines. The small-town pride vibe didn't feel as embraced back then. Hence the feedback I received from some of my peers.

Growing up here in Streator, IL I never really questioned if I was "missing out" on anything. My needs were met, I had a ton of fun, and was able to create beautiful memories with my friends and family. Yes, our town is coined "A Quiet Surprise on the Prairie," but that never seemed to stop me from making a little noise and sowing some wild oats...(not too many oats were actually sowed BUT I did have some fun in my youth).

Moving back home felt natural and I was excited to dive back into my community and see what the future held. The nostalgic feelings and comfort of home were certainly a draw for the homebody in me. I had pushed myself severely out of my comfort zone when I decided to finish my Bachelor's degree in downtown Chicago. I honestly couldn't believe it myself when I declared that I would be relocating to the South Loop of Chicago. This would certainly produce some shell shock. The pace was faster, the people seemed rushed and everything I knew as normal felt different. It was terrifying...but I would be lying if I said I didn't love it. Something about catapulting yourself into uncharted waters and learning something new is SO good for the soul. Sink or swim, right? I floundered at times and probably almost drowned here and there, but I always found myself back treading water. My time in the city taught me so much and gave me a confidence I didn't realize I was lacking. But in the end, it was time to move on.

After graduation, I moved home, worked a few local jobs, got married, had children, raised some chickens, and started to bury my roots even deeper into my hometown soil. Life was good, but there was something else I felt like I needed to do. I couldn't quite figure it out, but it all came together when my mother-in-law approached me in 2017 about opening a boutique. At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom to my two young sons and pretty thirsty for a creative outlet. Again, this was kind of out of my comfort zone, but, with some help from Mary, I pushed back out into the water. Then, lo and behold, Bromley & Brown Boutique was created.

I guess this is where I could say "long story short" and get to the whole point of this blog post, but the journey here was pretty important. You've probably heard all of the quotes about "the journey teaching you about the destination"...for me, this has been accurate.

Opening our boutique on Main St. in our hometown felt like a huge deal. It actually still feels like a huge deal even five years later. Seeing the chandeliers twinkling in the windows, or customers walking in and out of the shop has never gotten old. For me, it is something I am so proud of and a legacy left by my late mother-in-law for me to continue on.

Providing a service to my community and being a part of the revitalization of our Main St. has been such a great experience. The physical part of seeing customers wearing pieces from the shop is so cool, but knowing that I have been able to add something special to my hometown has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.

It is hard work and sometimes a gamble, but it is so important to invest back into your hometown or where you have planted roots. The ripple effect you can create is monumental and not only improves the appearance but can also help drive the economic part of your community. Numbers are kind of boring to me, (I prefer words) but I will say that over the past few years, I have seen such an increase in traffic and visitors to our Main St. It has been so great to meet new people from surrounding areas and see them excited to explore our downtown. I guess the phrase "if you build it, they will come" is kind of true.

Bromley & Brown Boutique, 308 E. Main St. Streator, IL

Taking care of your space and leaving places better than how you had found them is a practice I will always stand behind. If you have been toying with the idea of creating something in your town, this is your sign to go for it. Jump into the uncharted water! Your community will thank you and your town will be even better and more beautiful because of you. After all, we should always be proud of where our roots are planted, why not take the chance and keep those roots healthy?