Michelina
’s offers high-end merchandise in downtown Morgan Hill
With high-end clothing, silver jewelry and unique hand bags, Michelina’s Haute Designs in downtown Morgan Hill offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.
Despite opening in April, Michelina’s, next to Sinaloa Cafe on Monterey Road and First Street, celebrated its official ribbon cutting ceremony Friday.
The fancy boutique, which specializes in lingerie, imported jeans from Italy, name brand and boutique shoes and one-of-a-kind accessories geared to a more chic shopper, has been open four months, and owner Michelina Baio-Reiff said Morgan Hill residents have received her well.
“The customers are like family to me,” Baio-Reiff said. “I love this shop. I have great people who come in here.”
The clothing is available in most sizes, including plus sizes.
Among the more interesting items in the store are purses made from license plates. The bags have license plates from across the country.
Littlearth, the company that makes the bags, uses authentic plates for the purses – customizing and hand embroidering some to create a more artistic piece.
Other purses are made from album covers from various artists and rock stars such as AC/DC and Guns and Roses. Baio-Reiff said purses like the ones she sells have been purchased by such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey and Diana Ross.
Baio-Reiff, a Chicago native who first moved to California more than 20 years ago, settled in San Jose before moving to Gilroy and ultimately landing in Morgan Hill in 1989.
The choice to come to Morgan Hill was the result of a need she saw in South County for a high-end boutique, Baio-Reiff said. After a year of research, and strongly considering whether to open her store in Gilroy or Morgan Hill, Baio-Reiff settled on the mushroom city.
Downtown Morgan Hill, Baio-Reiff said, has been a good fit for her. She said the area has such a small town feel, but she would like to see more restaurants.
She said many of her customers are diners at nearby restaurants and come in either after their meal or while they are waiting to be seated. Her busiest times of day are when neighboring Sinaloa Cafe is busy with patrons.
Baio-Reiff said she tries to support local businesses wherever possible.
“I try to go to businesses here in town instead of going to San Jose,” Baio-Reiff said.
She added that if there is something she doesn’t have, she will send her customers over to Blush Boutique and vice versa. Baio-Reiff said her life-long interest and experience in the industry still fuels her passion for fashion. She said most of her family also is in the fashion business, which has more than rubbed off on her.
“I have always worked in the business with family,” Baio-Reiff said. “I have an eye for fashion; it’s in the blood.”
Now, Baio-Reiff said she practically lives in her shop, only going home to sleep. But it is still a dream come true.
“This is a lifelong dream to have this business,” Baio-Reiff said. “I have wanted this all my life, and it took me 47 years to realize that dream. People should not give up on their dreams. Nothing is impossible.”
Michelina’s is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am-7pm, and Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11am-6pm. The store is closed Sundays and Mondays. Details: 778-1844.
Cheeto Barrera is an intern at the Morgan Hill Times. He can be reached at cb******@*************es.com.
