Even at 12, Lisa Suter knew she would own her own businesses one day.
She knew one would be a clothing store since she loved fashion. And the other would be a bar like the one she grew up watching in “Cheers.”
Now, Suter is living out her childhood dreams in the form of LiLi + KoKo Boutique & Bubble Bar at BridgeWay Station.
The multifaceted shop brings fashion, bubbles and food under one roof. LiLi + KoKo has a dedicated space for shopping for on-trend clothing along with a beautifully decorated and outfitted wine bar and bistro.
The boutique opened at BridgeWay Station in September, but the bistro opened at the end of November.
“I view them as an extension of one another,” Suter said of the two concepts under one roof.
Everyone who enters gets a little sample of alcoholic bubbles to enjoy.
“I want women to be able to come in, buy themselves something nice or a gift for someone and they can relax and hang out and enjoy their afternoon,” Suter said. “It’s also turning into a good date night spot.”
The idea for the dual venture developed over the past five years. Suter and her husband were working and living outside Charlotte, N.C., when Suter and her dear friend and fellow fashion maven Courtney Thompson began some “what if” conversations around opening their own clothing shop.
The two envisioned a place that features styles for women of all ages.
Those initial conversations led to the launch of LiLi + KoKo in March 2020. Initially, the concept was just an online boutique, which seemed perfect given the pandemic-induced shutdown, but it proved a hard business model.
“The space is so saturated,” Suter said of e-commerce. “There is so much noise out there and it’s really hard to get people’s attention. You have to work 24/7 to build your followers and brand. And we both had full-time jobs so it was difficult.”
They pivoted and turned more to in-person events like shopping parties and pop-ups at local boutiques. At each one, women were able to come together in a comfortable space, learn about the clothes and get personalized fashion advice along with a glass of bubbles.
The act of talking and connecting while shopping proved successful, and the two began chatting about opening a brick-and-mortar store with bubbles.
At the time, Suter and her husband had moved to Greenville, having been wooed by the city’s charm and natural beauty, she said.
Meanwhile, Suter was ready to take LiLi + KoKo to another level. She and Thompson launched two pop-up shops, one in Charlotte and one at Hampton Station. While the former didn’t do as well, the one in Greenville did.
Suter was ready to build a permanent space for LiLi + KoKo. The partners and friends envisioned a space where they could showcase their clothing and also feature a wine and bubbles bar.
But in researching, they discovered a similar concept already existed. So Suter and Thompson began developing the food side in an effort to offer something different.
Finding properties for the dual concept proved a challenge, so Suter began to look for spaces for her other business idea, a bourbon bar. But, she paused in pursuing the idea given the state of liquor liability insurance challenges, she said.
But in her search for properties, she found a space at BridgeWay Station.
By then, the food and wine bar idea had evolved into a full-fledged bistro.
The menu includes an eclectic array of small, shareable items and has grown from there. Dishes include marinated olives and whipped goat cheese with herbed crostini, salads and larger plates like cherrywood smoked brisket sliders and Korean tuna atop quinoa.
Mike Frazier is overseeing food and beverage. Frazier, a seasoned hospitality veteran, met Suter through his former business, Smiley’s Acoustic Café. Suter and her husband were regulars.
Frazier has also helped shape the bar menu with a selection of wines, bubbles and craft beer.
You’ll also find cocktails like Baby, You’re a Star with sparkling wine, edible glitter and a sugared rim; an espresso martini; and the non-alcoholic Barbie Dream with strawberry puree, club soda and glitter.
“We try to be inclusive overall, the menu and the boutique,” Suter said.
The bistro is also now serving brunch on Sundays, as well.
Suter is finding joy in creating a space where women feel comfortable and supported. Suter and boutique manager Sherry Stinson are intentional about offering clothes and styles accessible to women of most shapes, sizes and budgets.
“One thing that is very important to me that I have incorporated into the business is support of other women,” Suter said.
That tenet runs throughout the business, from patrons to the products LiLi + KoKo carries. Many of the items, from wine to jewelry, are sourced from female-owned businesses and artisans. Suter plans to hold events with other local women-owned businesses.
LilLi + KoKo Boutique & Bubbles Bar is now open at 1108 Via Corso Ave.
Current hours are: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday.
For more, visit liliandkoko.com.
Follow Lillia Callum-Penso on Instagram @lpenso