It’s been more than two years since Lil’ Dudes got its start in downtown Mission.
In that time, owner Kelly Dehnert said the boys’ clothing boutique has continued to grow. So much so that it’s outgrowing its Mission space.
Come February, the boutique will have a new home just a bit further west on Johnson Drive. Lil’ Dudes plans to reopen in a new space in downtown Shawnee.
Lil’ Dudes is moving to 11216 Johnson Drive
- The boutique is moving to a space just off Johnson Drive and King Avenue, near Tiki Taco and gelato shop Flying Cow.
- A vacuum shop previously occupied that space.
- Once it opens in its new spot, Lil’ Dudes will operate under longer hours than it did in Mission — though the details on that have yet to be determined.
Lil’ Dudes aims to offer trendy items for boys
The clothing on the racks at Lil’ Dudes tends to range from items for infants to age 10.
Lil’ Dudes carries items from a variety of brands, along with some custom items of their own.
While it’s a children’s boutique, Dehnert said the idea is that boys who want to mimic the style of their older brothers, cousins or uncles can achieve that.
“We want to have things for the little guys that (can) look like their big brothers; more options for the cool and trendy stuff,” she said.
With a bigger space, the new downtown Shawnee shop will pave the way for some new inventory — including some new sports apparel and even some limited inventory for girls.
Lil’ Dudes opened in Mission in 2023
A mother and grandmother to boys herself, Dehnert said the idea for Lil’ Dudes came about when she noticed a lack of items for boys in most children’s boutiques.
When boys’ clothing did appear in shops, she said, it tended to be the same generic items. With Lil’ Dudes, she hoped to change that.
“It’s usually about 90% girls’ (items, 10% boys’ (items) in boutiques, so we kind of wanted to flip that,” she said.
Though the shop is leaving Mission, Dehnert said she’s optimistic that downtown Shawnee’s proximity to Mission means the shop can keep many of its regular customers.
Plus, downtown Shawnee has seen a lot of recent growth with several new additions, such as Franklin General Store and Hank’s Garage. Dehnert said she’s looking forward to being a part of the lively vibe.
“There’s always something going on there,” she said of downtown Shawnee. “I think we’re a perfect fit.”
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