Singer-songwriter Jessie James Decker to open Kittenish boutique in Tampa
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 27, 2021

Kittenish, a women’s fashion brand with a cult following on Instagram, will open a Tampa boutique in Hyde Park Village.

Kittenish founder Jessie James Decker, a Nashville-based singer and songwriter, said she’s been looking to open a store in Tampa since 2019. She visits the city frequently — her best friend, influencer Jessica Payne, lives here and owns Sweatology, an infrared sauna studio in South Tampa.

Payne, Decker said, convinced her she had a following in Tampa. Data from Shopify Inc., an e-commerce platform, backed up Payne’s sentiments.

“I get recognized in some cities more than others, and Tampa is one where I would get recognized and stopped for photos every time I was there,” Decker told the Tampa Bay Business Journal. “It was happening enough that I said to Jess, ‘Maybe this is a place to open our store.’”

The Hyde Park Village location will be the third brick-and-mortar storefront and the first in Florida for Kittenish, which also has boutiques in Dallas and Nashville. Kittenish will be located next to Pottery Barn, in a space previously occupied by Canvas Fashion Gallery. Decker says there’s always champagne on hand at Kittenish, and episodes of “Sex and the City” and “Friends” play on a projector. Each location has its own mural and unique photo opportunities.

“Not only are you getting amazing trendy pieces and a huge variety of styles and sizing — you’re also getting an experience,” she said.

It opens Nov. 6, and Decker will be on hand for grand opening events, including a meet-and-greet.

“We are excited to bring another new-to-market retailer to our unique tenant mix at Hyde Park Village,” Nicole Dee, general manager at Hyde Park Village, said in a statement. “Our community is craving more women’s retail, and Kittenish is the perfect fit.”