The Ivory Room set to open in downtown Wooster
The Ivory Room is a new boutique opened by Carrolyn Salazar on East Liberty Street in downtown Wooster.
Carrolyn Salazar got emotional while pondering the last few days before her new boutique, The Ivory Room, would open in downtown Wooster. When a dream is about to come true right before your eyes, those eyes are prone to watering a little.
For Salazar, the response was due to the combination of anxiety, excitement, fear and anticipation, all the culmination of years of dreams and hard work.
“I’ve never felt anything like this before,” she said. “It’s an anticipation like I’ve never felt before in my career. They’re all nerves of just excitement. I can’t wait to see how people feel when they walk in here. I can’t wait to see how my kids feel when they walk in, just to show them that if you have something you want to do, it actually can be done, even if you think something is impossible.”
The Ivory Room — right down to the name — is something that’s been on Salazar’s mind for years, dating back to her college days when she and a best friend took fashion design classes together.
While Salazar’s career took a tangent or two away from the fashion industry, a small boutique was always somewhere in her subconscience. The name Ivory Room came from bridal colors, and brides-to-be will be at the top of the list of the store’s frequent shoppers.
“I just wanted a name that was classy and nostalgic and something that emulated a bride; she would walk in and be splashed with ivory,” Salazar said. “My husband (Freddy) and I have always wanted to own a business. We moved to Wooster five years ago and always thought something like this shop will do so well in downtown Wooster.”
The store, which Salazar said will be a bit of a “bougie boutique,” will specialize in dresses, accessories, head pieces and specialty gifts like nail polishes and candy. It will be for whomever decides to walk in the door — in other words not just for brides, who will be catered to by appointment.
“I’m hoping it’s every woman’s dream,” Salazar said. “I hope to transport them to another place and time when they’re shopping.”
The little shop is just that with its 1,100 or so square feet of retail space. For the time being, Salazar will be the sole employee. The store features an industrial look, with exposed ducts and a tin ceiling, which Salazar said will be very clean.
“We just fell in love with the space,” she said. “It’s perfect for what we needed.”
There is a website at www.ivoryroomwooster.com, but there’s not much on it right now. And there may not be any time soon. Salazar said it’s possible she may one day venture into the world of e-commerce but doesn’t believe that fits her sales motif.
While she is not necessarily old-school, her wares are, and she believes her customers’ shopping should be hands-on and in person.
“This really is supposed to be a shopping experience,” she said. “I want people to come in and have the experience.”
And those who do come in just may catch Salazar beaming a bit. That’s what happens when a dream comes true right in front of the world.
“I think life happens, and sometimes you do think it’s this mountain, like can I do that?” Salazar said. “You see other people do it, and some people make it feel really easy. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. All of my life experiences have set the stage for this moment.”
The Ivory Room will open Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., then Oct. 13 from 2-6:30 p.m. The rest of opening week, the store will be open Friday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. After that, regular business hours will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only. The store will be closed for lunch each day from 3:15-3:45 p.m.