Big changes are coming to Gilded Social, and they translate to big savings for savvy shoppers. The boutique opened Downtown on Gay Street in 2018 with gowns for bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and other special occasion shoppers, and began selling wedding gowns at a second location in Granville early last year. Now, owner Tanya Hartman is shifting to focus exclusively on wedding gowns and “little white dresses” perfect for showers, bachelorettes, rehearsal dinners and elopements.
“The business has changed. I have been real upfront about how quickly our numbers took a tumble in March/April of 2020, and we have never recovered,” Hartman says, adding that business has been down 50 to 65 percent for her in the last two and a half years. “With how well the bridal shop is doing, and I was able to purchase that building [in Granville], it feels like a little bit of a fresh start after such turmoil here [Downtown].” That’s not to say the decision was easy for Hartman, however. “I probably have held on about a year too long, just because I love bridesmaids. I have always loved this,” she says. “I would never have bought this shop if I didn’t.”
