Kathleen Stayton recently opened Victoria boutique in Lecanto, named for her late daughter, Victoria, who died tragically on Christmas Eve 2022.
Nancy Kennedy
Chronicle Reporter
Off and on for the past 30 years, Kathleen Stayton has had a boutique somewhere in Citrus County.
Her most recent boutique, Victoria, is at 312 S. Kensington Ave., Lecanto, next to the Holiday Inn Express.
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“I named the boutique after my daughter, who died in a car accident on Christmas Eve 2021,” Stayton said. “Two days before, we went to the movies in Ocala. When I dropped her off where she was staying … and came home, I sat in my recliner chair meditating on the really fun time we had.
“At that time, she was 33 and I didn’t approve of some of her choices, and I knew God was telling me to ‘let her go.’ Forty hours later, she had a car wreck late on a Thursday night and she died Friday, Christmas Eve, 30 minutes after midnight.”
Victoria, the boutique, is filled with photos of Stayton’s daughter Victoria.
Prior to this location, Stayton had a boutique on County Road 486 in Lecanto, sharing space with Sew What by Debbie.
Stayton also sews and does alterations.
Sew What, which is now Gina’s Alterations, moved to the South Kensington Avenue location three years ago; Stayton, however, had closed her boutique to care for her mother who had Alzheimer’s.
“I lost her in April, the Saturday before Easter,” she said.
She opened this boutique, next to Gina’s Alterations, in the first part of October.
Victoria boutique carries a wide selection of one-of-a-kind “upscale, funky, vintage, Boho” pieces, plus cruise wear and comfortable semi-formal wear – and more.
Nancy Kennedy / Chronicle Reporter
Proceeds from boutique sales go to two nonprofit organizations: Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and Operation Underground Railroad, which works to combat human trafficking.
The clothing Stayton carries is both new and “very gently used,” much of it one-of-a-kind.
“I call my stuff ‘comfortable semi-formal/party stuff/cruise wear.’ I love cruising, and that’s why I like to have lots of cruise wear outfits,” she said. “I have mother-of-the-bride outfits, dresses and two-piece sparkly stuff, a lot of plus sizes.
“I have a boatload of bathing suits,” she said. “If you’re cruising, you need a bathing suit.”
She features what she calls “upscale funky vintage” items, like Boho skirts and “Mrs. Roper” caftans.
“I had a customer come in, she was going to a Mrs. Roper party, so a caftan was perfect,” she said.
The boutique also carries a large line of Larimar jewelry, a rare blue variety of a mineral found only in the Dominican Republic.
Victoria boutique carries a large line of Larimar jewelry, a rare blue variety of a mineral found only in the Dominican Republic.
Photos by Nancy Kennedy / Chronicle Reporter
The grand opening of Victoria is Friday, with cookies and punch and raffles, drawings and freebies.
All clothing is 50 percent off through the end of October, and Stayton offers free layaway on jewelry.
At this time, the store takes only cash, Zelle or a personal check with a driver’s license (or government ID).
Victoria is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sundays.
Nancy Kennedy can be reached at 352-564-2927 or by email at nkennedy@chronicle
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