Gigi’s Kiss of Style is a boutique located at 515 2nd St. in Portsmouth. The store first opened in 2016 in Wheelersburg, but then moved to Portsmouth. The owner, Crystal Graf, has been providing the store’s customers with the latest styles and trends since then. The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for Gigi’s and other small businesses in the community, but now Graf is looking to expand the business.
“We are in an area that has had its ups and downs over several years,” Graf said. “In the past few years, we have seen it grow, but the after-effects of COVID and currently the economy is making it challenging for all local businesses.”
COVID led to the closing of Gigi’s Kiss of Style in Wheelersburg. When Graf saw the opportunity to open in Portsmouth, she jumped on it. Now, she is looking to grow the business and open a second location at 725 5th St. in Portsmouth.
The recent challenges have created a community among the local businesses in Portsmouth.
“I believe that all the local businesses support each other. As it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to support businesses,” Graf said. “We all need each other, and it’s critical that we support all the businesses in the community to help Portsmouth grow to a prospering community where visitors will want to come.”
