BY DIANE SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A stylish new era began in downtown Inez on Saturday as Spirit Shop celebrated its grand opening, blending modern fashion with deep roots in the town’s retail past.
Owner Daniel Cline, driven by fond memories of local favorite shops, launched the boutique to rekindle the vibrant shopping culture he grew up loving — and to inspire a new generation with clothing, energy and community spirit.
The Martin County native’s inspiration came from “back in the day when Jeans ’N Things, Lucille’s, Adeline’s and even Joey’s Market sold trendy clothing right here in Inez.”
“I don’t know if many people remember but Joey sold clothing in the back of the store,” Cline said. “And I just loved going in there and browsing. I loved all the fashion stores in Inez and wanted to bring that back to the community. We don’t have a lot of that here, or boutiques for that matter.”
Spirit Shop’s grand opening was a high-energy celebration, complete with wheel spins for discounts and giveaways, drawings for walk-ins and online shares, and bold markdowns on stylish threads and footwear. The energy matched Cline’s vision for a shop that does more than dress people — it lifts them.
“I want this to be a place where you can find not only good clothing but have positive energy and good vibes when you walk in the door,” he commented.
The shop offers an impressive lineup of popular brands, including Simply Southern, Judy Blue Jeans, Corkys Footwear, Maker’s Shoes, Bogg Bag, LuLu Mac, Jacqueline Kent, Katydids and KY for KY. Shoppers can also find officially licensed concert tees, tumblers, backpacks and custom-made apparel for Martin County Cardinals and other surrounding school brands.
It is a shop with both modern style and roots.
“I love the whole concept of being in downtown Inez,” said Cline. “It brings back memories of me as a child looking out this front window and seeing the Inez Drug Store, where my parents, Danny Cline and Rita Horn Stacy, owned Pizza Fun Time. All the town was abuzz and I loved that.”
Cline sees Spirit Shop as a movement.
“I see Martin County growing and I want to grow with it,” he said.
Located at 32 West Main Street beside Blooms on Main and the Mountain Citizen, Spirit Shop is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. during the summer, with extended hours coming in the fall.
Reach Spirit Shop at (606) 953-7778, visit online at spiritshoplive.com and follow on Facebook for weekly live sales and updates.
