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From Church To Boutique With Sore Muscles Complete

It was an answered prayer for Kelli Fuglsang when she found a building to set up her new business in Old Town Elkhorn but the hard work that followed was a mixed blessing.

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Reporter: John Knicely

Old Church New Boutiue

It was an answered prayer for Kelli Fuglsang when she found a building to set up her new business in Old Town Elkhorn but the hard work that followed was like a mixed blessing.

Fuglsang told Channel 6 News, "I had a friend who said Kelli, I've been praying for you to get a church."

That conversation took place last spring when Kelli was trying to find a building to launch her plan for a new boutique. Not long after that conversation, Kelli closed on the old church building.

It's located on north Main Street in Elkhorn, an area where eight other women have opened small shops.

Kelli's boutique "This & That & Other Stuff" opened this fall after a complete renovation of the building that was built in the 1920's and had undergone some changes from previous business owners over the years..

"The floor had 1970s shag carpet glued to it, so I spent the summer with a glue gun and spatula scraping glue off the floor." she said.

That was the mixed blessing for Kelli. She scraped for two months straight before all the glue was removed.

The blessing came from friends who muscled up to gut the rest of the building.

"You couldn't see the beauty, it was hidden." she said. "Points of the stain glass windows were cut off by the second floor, and we had to strip wallpaper off the walls."

And behind the wallpaper in some areas they found old newspaper from the 70's glued to the wall. That glimpse of the past is still there as part of the charm.

"I love the people that come walking in who used to attend church here," Kelli said. "One.woman told me she was baptized here."

Two other small businesses will soon open in Old Town Elkhorn, Both are also owned and operated by women.

"I just love the close community." Kelli said. "Everyone helps each other, I just love it. Its just an amazing community down here."