At very few retail stores will you find gowns from Paris displayed next to muumuus from Honolulu and designer bags from New York City, all the while marked down at a fraction of the market price. That is, unless, you’re strolling through Christé Blue.
Based in St. Augustine on Anastasia Boulevard, the First Coast couture boutique has just about one or two of everything, but very few multiples of anything. With items ranging in price from $5 to $5,000, Christé Blue offers a full line of designer, upscale resale and vintage apparel, as well as new, estate and costume jewelry, original artwork and sculpture, hardwood furniture, Italian leather seating, eclectic gifts and everything in between.
“People come, it’s a cool experience and that’s why they come back,” said Matt Cafiso, who opened Christé Blue with his wife Susan in 2004. “They want to come, they want to enjoy, and they want to see everything.”
With previous backgrounds in Corporate America, the Cafisos now travel the country and globe to source that “everything” found within their store, with the ultimate goal of serving clients of all ages, classes and styles at an affordable price.
“If there’s a go to market strategy, ours is to make anybody comfortable no matter what their needs are,” added Matt, who noted that Susan designs and creates some of the items seen on the floor.
The store’s inventory is not just limited to women. The couple has travelled west to bring back boots and Hawaiian shirts for men, among other items.
And the store’s mission, said Matt, is beyond selling clothing. Christé Blue strives to be an active member of the community, currently serving as a sponsor of INK! (Investing in Kids), a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides the tools and resources necessary to help children in St. Johns County reach their full potential.
INK!’s current Take Stock in Children Scholarship and Mentoring Program provides middle school students in need of support with mentors and academic support through their high school education and beyond. Monetary donations to the nonprofit can be made at Christé Blue. Or patrons can pay the ticketed price of any sale item in the store, and the business will donate a minimum of 20 percent of that sale price back to the nonprofit. Then, every $1 raised will be matched 100 percent by the nonprofit, with those proceeds going back to the local kids in need.
“What are we going to give back?” questioned Matt. “At the end of the day, that’s very important to us.”
Christé Blue is located at 1035 Anastasia Blvd. in St. Augustin. Visit http://www.shopchristeblue.com/ or call (904) 808-1235 for more information.
