Owner Cheryl Calvin has deep roots in Lake Highlands – she grew up here and she and her husband have raised their kids here. When she used to buy inventory for her mom’s long-running store in Salado, she would often get requests from friends and neighbors to pick up items and bring them back to Lake Highlands. She soon realized there was a need for a women’s clothing boutique in her own backyard and with inspiration from her mom’s store, The Store in Old Town Salado, The Store in Lake Highlands took birth.

Needless to say, the Lake Highlands community strongly supported the new boutique. As popularity grew Cheryl added home décor and gift items to create more offerings for neighbors. As those items were successful, she started taking requests. It became apparent many of the local grandmas were asking for baby and children’s gifts so she, “set up a bookshelf of children’s books and Jellycat stuffed animals and they flew off the shelf!” Following that success, she decided to add complimentary gift wrapping. So not only can you find that perfect item, but you can have it wrapped too, and they have cards for any occasion! The ultimate easy button.

Throughout the years, the styles have evolved with the times in all sections of the store. Her favorite section though is still what started it all - clothes, especially clothes for Spring. “It’s just more fun!” A few years ago Cheryl’s daughter, Allison Self, joined the team and brought a fresh and youthful flair to the clothes inventory, with brands like THML, Ivy Jane, Liverpool, Kut from the Kloth. 

Cheryl loves finding ways to give back to the community. At a business seminar she was introduced to the idea of a rewards program. It was perfect! She immediately started the card catalogue reward system and her loyal clientele grew substantially. Thankfully technology did too and became much easier to manage than paper cards. It all went online, and your reward is 5% of your total pre-tax dollars that gets saved in your account for you to use at a later time. It adds up quick and is so fun to discover when you have free money to spend!

Twenty-two years later and The Store is a Lake Highlands community staple. Above everything else Cheryl’s very favorite aspect is the feeling of family - with the employees, with the community, and with the clients. “The employees don’t just feel like family, they are. They care so much and it shows. They care about the products and the presentation but especially about the clients,” she says. And that’s exactly what sets this favorite spot apart from others. You just can’t help but feel it – feel the sincere customer service, sense of pride in the community and the genuine feeling of family we get to be a part of just by shopping there.  

The best part is, I never know what I’m looking for, but I always find what I need… and they offer complimentary gift wrap!!