RETAIL REVIVAL MOVES EAST

Share this article with a friend.

October 25, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

Alum opens new popup clothing boutique in Grosse Pointe Woods after nearly 10 years of retail success.

Notre Dame Prep alum Taylor (Bolleber) Pettit NDP'10 recently opened up a new Bird Bee store in Grosse Pointe Woods. Billed as a lifestyle clothing boutique offering a mix of modern bohemian, vintage-inspired and contemporary clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories, it's actually Pettit's second storefront since she began her business nearly 10 years ago. 

“I started Bird Bee in November of 2015 while working full time at an advertising agency,” she told Notre Dame Prep's IRISH magazine in 2016."

Pettit eventually left the advertising job in May of 2016 to focus full time on her business, which was online-only at first. She then moved into a retail store environment in downtown Detroit, which performed well, she said. Actually too well.

Back to the future

Eventually, however, as she was facing a lease on her Detroit store that was coming to an end after about seven years, and dealing with an around-the-clock work schedule, Pettit decided to go back to an online-only business model once again. 

"Our lease renewal was coming up, so we ultimately decided to take a break," said the Grand Valley State University graduate. "Our downtown store was very successful, but you have to give so much of yourself in order to keep it running at that level. Working seven days a week for anywhere between eight to 12 hours a day definitely takes a toll when you do it for so many years."

As she worked on increasing an already impressive online shopping presence, Pettit began to "get the itch" to offer the in-person shopping experience once again. 

Marriage and a move

"It really helped that our customers were constantly asking us when we’d be opening a new location," she said. "Without wanting to commit to another long-term lease right away, we decided to at least be open somewhere as a popup store for the holiday season. Then this perfect little spot in Grosse Pointe Woods became available and ready for us to move right in."

Pettit also said that there were personal changes in her life that also influenced the move to this particular physical location, including a marriage.

"During early COVID, my now husband and I were looking at a living situation that could be more permanent outside of downtown Detroit," she said. "This led us to landing in Grosse Pointe Woods where we have been residents since July of 2021. After establishing our roots together, we eventually married in Palm Springs, California."

Another factor, she notes, is that Grosse Pointe is close enough to downtown Detroit where her husband works, and because they loved the area so much, the opportunity of bringing a Bird Bee storefront back to life in the area made too much sense for her.

Now after nearly a month open, Pettit said things have been going great.

"It's been wonderful so far," she said. "We had such a great time with the grand opening and we're getting further acquainted with the community. Overall the feedback has been amazing!"

Strong work ethic from NDP

Pettit credits her success in fashion retail and business to many things, not the least of which was her time in high school.

"One of the main things I look back on so fondly at Notre Dame Prep is how much it instilled a strong work ethic and routine in me," she said. "My parents provided that foundation for me early in my life and NDP helped expand on that. I always took pride in wanting to do well and I enjoyed being surrounded by like-minded hardworking students. Having a routine of balancing a heavy load of school work and extracurriculars teaches you time management skills that you carry with you throughout college and your career."

She says she loves when she encounters members of the NDP community.

"No matter where I go in life, I always seem to still be connected to so many alumni and students in so many different ways," she said. "If any of them make the trip out to Grosse Pointe and visit us at Bird Bee, let us know you're connected to NDP! I always love seeing people who come from a similar foundation as me, and we'd certainly love to see you stop in!"

Bird Bee will be open Oct. 3 through at least the end of January 2025. It is located at 20315 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Subject to change) Closed Sunday and Monday.

shopbirdbee.com
 

 

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.