By Mark Ambrogi
Carmel resident Melissa Butrum’s dream has been to open her own clothing store.
“I’ve always had a passion for fashion,” said the 33-year-old Butrum, who grew up in Terre Haute. “If you ever asked me what I was going to do growing up, I would say I wanted to own my own store.”
Then Butrum got a shove telling her not to wait.
“My best friend, who I had been friends with since sixth grade, was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Butrum said. “She had a good fight and actually beat it at one point. She was in remission for nine months, but it came back.”
Her friend, Sarah Norton, died at age 31 in September 2014 in Terre Haute. Watching her courageous struggle, Butrum came to a realization.
“Life is too short. You have to follow your dream,” she said. “If you don’t, you’re never going to know.”
Butrum will open a women’s clothing boutique called Endeavor in The Nash at Carmel City Center. The grand opening for Endeavor, 846 S. Range Line Rd., is planned for April 23.
“We’ll probably do a soft opening (on April 21 or 22) to make sure we’re ready to go,” Butrum said. “We’re not going to have any certain brands because it’s going to be more of a price point from $20 to under $100. We’re going to stay with the latest trends on what is new in the market. We’ll have some handbooks, bracelets, necklaces and rings. We’ll have some shoes, scarves. We’ll have a curvy girl section.”
Butrum, who has a 2-year-old son, said her husband, Jason, has been very supportive in her desire to have her own business.
As of now, Butrum said the store will be closed on Sunday and Monday. The hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Butrum, an Indiana State graduate in merchandising, has been in the apparel business for 11 years and is sales representative for a men’s clothing line. She will continue in that job but will be in the store when not traveling for her job. Butrum will likely start with two employees.
