Kay’s
Marco’s fashion epicenter –
Kay’s on the Beach still thriving after three decades
By Elizabeth Kellar – Photos by Quentin Roux
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S
Upstairs at Kay’s on the Beach, ladies
will find a wide variety of hats, gowns
and a section of clearance items.
So, you need sequins. Silver ones, all designed to dazzle, and sewn together on a dress that’s short and strapless. Or maybe you only require an accessory, a necklace
or a purse, something elegant and eye-catching.
Then again, you may enter Kay’s on the Beach not
knowing what you want or need. It’s a state that’s easily
resolved by wandering among the boutique’s rooms
and racks, browsing everything from sportswear to formal gowns. If you’re still searching, the shop’s staff is
poised to help.
“We are very much about helping women find their
comfort zone,”says Jeane Hilt, the boutique’s co-owner.
The phrase“fashion icon”is usually reserved for
movie stars or royalty, but on Marco Island, it also applies to Kay’s on the Beach. For more than three decades, the boutique with the cotton-candy pink paint
job has been an Island institution, supplying shoppers
with what they need for every event, from stylish soirees to casual beachcombing.
It’s a success story that’s easily explained, Jeane says.
“We’re always searching for better fabric, better quality,
better pricing,”she said.
Jeane’s mother, Kay Folsom, began the business
after moving to the Island with her husband Bill. The
couple hailed from Wisconsin, and although Kay was a
schoolteacher there, she was no stranger to the boutique business; her grandmother owned a ladies’ apparel shop, too.
Kay recalls how Jeane’s father realized Marco Island’s potential. When the two moved to the Island in
1970, the peak season population was about 6,000
people. Bill knew that would change, and soon.“He
prophesized that in five years, the population would
explode,”Kay said.
The first Kay’s on the Beach opened in 1976, in a
900-square-foot building on Bald Eagle Drive. In 1980,
Bill built his wife a new, two-story store located directly
next to the former shop. The upstairs served as their
residence, and retail occupied the first floor.
Bill’s unexpected death in 1983 led Jeane to move
from New York City to Marco Island to help her mother
run the boutique.“She came down and rescued me,”
Kay said with a smile.
Soon, Kay’s on the Beach began to undergo some
changes. When the shop initially opened, it focused
Kay Hilt
Folsom with
her daughter,
Jeannie Hilt.
A mother-of-the-bride could steal the spotlight
from the bride wearing this creation.
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primarily on beachwear. Jeane brought an arts background to
the business, and began to introduce more clothing lines and
styles. The boutique now offers a full range of women’s apparel.
“We have everything from sportswear to evening wear to
mother-of-the bride,”Kay said.
With Jeane at the helm, Kay’s on the Beach began to expand
to other parts of Collier and Lee counties, too; presently, there
are five stores. Two are located in downtown Naples and the
most recently opened shop is in Bonita Springs.
At the Marco Island Kay’s on the Beach, vestiges of Kay and
Bill’s old upstairs apartment still remain; the wet bar area, for
example, was once the couple’s kitchen. But the floor has enjoyed a popular second life as the place where sale items from
all Kay’s on the Beach stores are brought for a final close-out
and a savvy shopper might discover a fashionable deal.
Kay is proud of and pleased by all of her stores, and describes each one as special. She is especially fond of decorating
them with antiques to create a distinctive atmosphere. The
Marco Island boutique is cozy and intimate, with comfortable
seating for customers and even a place for non-shoppers —
husbands, that is — to sit and watch television.
“We like unusual things,”Kay said.“People say they like to
come in and look around our shops.”
Besides cultivating a unique shopping environment, Kay and
Jeane believe their shop is successful because of what is offered
— and how. The Kay’s on the Beach staff is thoughtful and sensitive to shoppers’ needs — none more than Kay, who has an
excellent ability to remember her customers’ names and personal histories.
Kay’s on the Beach holds style shows to help shoppers find
their inspiration, as well. Their biggest is a Valentine’s Day show
in February, but the women estimate they hold up to 25 shows
each year. During season, they also hold a weekly show at a
popular Marco Island resort.
The events give women a chance to see how various apparel
looks when worn, and may encourage them to try something
that wouldn’t normally interest them. Jeane and Kay often participate as models.
“We try to give the best quality we can for the dollar, for the
money.”Jeane said of the boutique her mother founded.“I try
not to (model) anything I wouldn’t wear myself.”
Kay insists that she never anticipated the shop she started 34
years ago would flourish and grow so extensively. But, in addition to being a prosperous continuation of a family profession,
it has also granted her an opportunity to work alongside her
daughter, one of the best perks of the job.“We love it,”Kay said.
“We’re best friends. She starts a sentence and I can finish it.”
Kay’s on the Beach, 1089 Bald Eagle Drive. 394-1033. M
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Fashion
selections at
Kay’s on the
Beach include
casual and dress
attire as well as
a full array of
accessories.
For the
sophisticated
woman, Kay’s
stocks cocktail
dresses of
varying lengths
and styles.
Fashionable hats
are prominent at
Kay’s on the Beach.
The staff at Kay’s
will help you
select the appropriate
accessories to
accompany your
outfit, like these
faux pearls and
this hot
pink dress.
Casual resort wear is a popular
option for women.
Fashion
selections at
Kay’s on the
Beach include
casual and
dress attire as
well as a full
array of
accessories.
MARCO | 29