‘Apricot Lane’ Boutique is Now Just Off East Central St.

Above, friends, customers, supporters – and owner Marta McNulty, with her big scissors – celebrated the grand opening of Franklin’s Apricot Lane Boutique, located behind Starbucks on East Central Street at 5 pm Friday evening.

Entrepreneurship gets its hooks in some people and just won’t let go. Marta McNulty, who was born and raised in Poland before moving to the U.S., writes, “I grew up watching my mom and my grandma operate a retail store in Poland. I definitely got my passion for fashion from them, and eventually it became my professional career.

“To me, what we wear is not just clothing, it is an art. The way we style and put our outfits together describes in detail who we are and what we believe in. I think a woman should always wear what she feels comfortable in because that defines her and helps her feel confident,” she concludes.

Marta met her husband on a trip in Yellowstone National Park on a Work & Travel Program. They married after 5 years and now have two children; daughter, Misia,13 years old and son, Adam,11 years old.

Marta said she worked as a Visual Merchandiser for a well-known department store for almost a decade, and was responsible for determining what was put on the sales floor. And, she writes on her web site, “I knew I had a keen fashion sense and the experience of the buying process, and finally decided it was time to open my own boutique.

Apricot Lane Boutique is a California-based franchise operation that has been in business for half-a-century, according to McNulty. And it is unusual because it allows considerable operational freedom for franchisees. “They make available products but I can choose what I like or even bring in other products,” she explains.

The formula seems to be successful: McNulty said her Franklin location joins recently opened stores in Manchester, Vermont, Duxbury, Massachusetts, as well as Nashua, New Hampshire.

Earlier in the week, The Tri-County Regional Chamber President Laura O’Callaghan came to welcome Marta and her business as new members and a representative of the Chamber oversaw the ribbon cutting event.

Also in attendance was State Rep. Jeff Roy, who read a proclamation he and Speaker Mariano provided to honor her start in business.

Now, Marta is banking on the presence of the other new businesses in the plaza, the adjacent Big Y, and word of mouth to bring in shoppers.

“I want everyone that visits my store to leave feedback, [about] what other styles or brands you would. like to see in the boutique,” she said.

Above, Franklin resident Kelly Carrara shopping at Apricot Lane Boutique Friday afternoon.