This veteran-owned clothing boutique in Allen serves champagne to all shoppers of age

Trying on in a new boutique in Allen has a funny twist: all age-appropriate shoppers are offered champagne.

CRVS opened just last month in Watters Creek in Allen, across from Anthropology and Victoria’s Secret and next to Altar’d State.

CRVS is sometimes pronounced “curves” and is co-owned by three women: US Marine Corps veteran Tara Lugiano, US Air Force veteran Sarah Maine, and a South African citizen, Bronwyn Linder. (Maine’s husband Elijah is also the owner, but he says the women are the faces of the store.)

The trio like to drink. After sitting with the idea and letting it ferment, they decided it would help bringing alcohol to their shop to create a fun, relaxed atmosphere. (Maine said she hasn’t seen them lately because she is eight months pregnant.)

But they limit customers to one glass.

“We want everyone to feel good – not drunk,” said Linder.

Tara Lugiano, left, and Bronwyn Linder make a champagne toast at the CRVS boutique in Allen. (Jason Janik / special article)(Jason Janik / special article)

But champagne isn’t just about feeling good physically – it’s also part of carefully cultivating an environment that feels like “shopping with your girlfriend,” Maine said.

The layout of the boutique is designed to cultivate that feeling. The back of the shop is a cozy space with sofas to sink into and a table to rest on with a glass of champagne.

Lugiano, who works in the store in the evenings, says she loves joining in the background with customers to help them choose the right outfit. A shopper recently returned to show her pregnancy photos after buying her dress from CRVS.

“That made my day sweeter,” said Lugiano.

That’s exactly what their business is about, they said.

“We are proud of this personal shopping experience,” said Linder.

In order to keep the atmosphere friendly and relaxed, no commission is paid to shop staff. For them, success does not mean that every customer takes a large bag or “everything in the shop” with them.

“I hate walking in places that I feel like they’re trying to make that sale,” Linder said.

Instead, it’s more rewarding for a customer to go with fewer items that fit their style, physique, size, and personality, they said. (They wear sizes extra small to XXXL.)

Since three of the four owners have military connections and together have nearly three decades of military service experience, the store offers military personnel and their spouses a 10% discount.

The trio would like to open additional locations in North Texas and beyond – but not this year or in the near future.

They said they are still recovering from the hangover of the Allen store opening.

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