Word On The Street: Deb Leier’s Home Essentials Boutique Is Hot!

Deb Leier’s Home Essential Boutique is swarming with folks who come in from all around the metro (by cars and bus loads) to shop for painted furniture, holiday gift items, glasswares, exceptional homemade gourmet food items, original floral arrangements and home accent pieces. 

In 1985, Woodbury resident Deb Leier, first hosted the boutique out of her home. “Each year the boutique grew, and after 12 years, I was told I could no longer operate it from my home, due to the significant amount of people and traffic coming in and out of my neighborhood,” laughed Leier.  

“Looking back, not being able to host it out of my home was really a blessing in disguise. When we relocated the boutique to Oak Marsh Golf Course, the amount of shoppers and vendors just skyrocketed,” said Leier. 

This year, the Home Essentials Boutique is located in the former White Wolf location at 9242 Hudson Blvd. N (Lake Elmo, Minn.) Leier says she hopes this will be the boutique’s final location until she retires. 

It’s no wonder this seasonal boutique is buzzing, as Deb only hosts it twice a year (fall and spring) and the current boutique runs through November 27 (closed Thanksgiving Day).

Rumor has it though, Deb will begin hosting four boutiques a year beginning in 2012.

According to Leier, she gets approximately 50,000 shoppers through her doors during boutiques. “In the past couple of years, we’ve started getting bus loads of shoppers coming in from other areas to shop, so that’s increasing the foot traffic, too,” Leier said.

Currently, there are 175 vendors. All goods are priced anywhere from $1 to $500. “I work very hard with all of my vendors to keep prices reasonable and affordable for our shoppers,” she said.  

Kim Gram, Woodbury resident and boutique staff member, has been helping Leier with her shows since 1985. “When she first started up her boutique, she was my neighbor. Our kids were the same ages,” said Gram.

“When our boys were small, they’d be hanging out while we worked,” said Gram. According to Gram, the boys would hide under the tables and grab ankles for fun. “The funny thing about it, we never knew about their ankle antics until just recently when the boys (now age 26) were exchanging stories about it,” laughed Gram.

Woodbury resident, Vikki Anderson has been coming to the show for about six years. “I just love shopping here, because of the unique things I find here and the fair prices,” said Anderson. 

“The boutique is color coordinated, too, making it convenient for those who are working within a specific color scheme,” said Anderson. She added she loves this year’s new location, as it seemed to be getting a bit cramped at the Oak Marsh location.

The staff says this year’s hot items are, lighted holiday pictures, vintage Christmas bulb wreaths, original floral arrangements, cozy neck wraps, apricot pepper chutney and painted and finished furniture. 

For more information about Home Essentials Boutique call (651) 730-8006 or find Deb Leier Home Essentials on Facebook. The seasonal boutique ends November 27.