Cherry Lane Boutique

Cherry Lane was born in 2003 as a small online cottage business featuring personalized, machine-embroidered pillows created by Leslie Gledhill. Customers requested their favorite quotes or specific personalization and Leslie filled the orders on her machines at home. Michael Gledhill created the Web site, and together they eventually began to add many more gift items to the site.

Now, Cherry Lane Keepsakes has grown to be one of the nation's largest e-commerce gift Websites, featuring fresh and unique "cherry-picked" gifts, handbags and jewelry. The University Avenue location of Cherry Lane Keepsakes houses their corporate offices, the warehouse and shipping facility for cherrylanekeepsakes.com -- plus an exciting boutique. This beautiful historic building (BYU Women's Gymnasium), which Cherry Lane has put a great deal of love and money into, holds many memories for Leslie, who grew up only two doors down from it.

"Many people come into our business just to see what has happened to the old building and to share the experiences they had here," Leslie says. "My parents came to their first dance in this building, which makes it even more special to me." The boutique, which specializes in handbags, jewelry and accessories, provides a venue for locals to see a small portion of what Cherry Lane has to offer.

The boutique's inviting displays, created by Brenda Christensen, are set up to make for a truly fun "treasure hunt," as many customers comment. "Leslie has an amazing eye for novel, fun things that people will enjoy," says Brenda, Cherry Lane Keepsakes' artistic designer,. "Having this store is a natural way to share her talent locally."

One of Leslie's joys is going to market -- often accompanied by her close friend Shelley Bonnett -- to find exciting items for her store. "We look for new, trendy and unique gifts, handbags, jewelry, and accessories that people would love to use and wear," Leslie says.

Cherry Lane Keepsakes is always full to the brim with a delightful and eclectic mix of affordable gifts and collectibles.

"The gift business is such a happy industry," Leslie says. "I love seeing customers smile as they discover the perfect treasure for themselves, family or friends."