What’s In A Name?
One of the first things people ask me when I mention Wolfbait is, “Wait, what’s the name of that shop is again?” A bit odd, yet meaningful, Wolfbait and B-Girls is not your typical name for a boutique. Of course, this is not your typical boutique. The shop website explains: “The name Wolfbait & B-girls is a nod to historic Chicago. The 1950 guidebook Chicago Confidential defines Wolfbait as girls who move to the city looking for success, and B-girls as what they sometimes turn into, think b-side, bad girl, Bruiser & Brazen judy.” Don’t forget the Little Red Riding Hood and hip-hop references.
Owned by Jenny Stadler and Shirley Novak, two designers that operate their respective clothing lines from the Logan Square shop, Wolfbait serves up original Chicago goods from over 80 other local clothing and jewelry artisans as well. I spoke with Shirley on Halloween, her favorite holiday, and asked a few questions about Wolfbait and B-Girls’ origins.
So, how did this all begin? What spawned the idea to open a boutique?
Jenny and I met about 5 years ago, doing other craft and fashion shows. We opened our store almost 2 years ago.
When was that?
We actually opened on April Fool’s Day, 2006. So if we weren’t ready yet we could say ‘Just kidding!’
What steps did you take to make that a reality?
We spent a year and a half on our business plan, looking at different locations, and raising money. Our business plan had to be full-proof, and keep in mind every possible detail. It took lots of preparation.
How’d you choose your location?
Jenny found it- Actually the building wasn’t even built yet. We reserved our space with the condo developer when it was still an empty lot. We liked Logan Square because it wasn’t already saturated with boutiques, like Wicker Park or Lincoln Park. We wanted to be different, and create a new audience in a new neighborhood.
Is there a central theme here?
Well, we are totally local- carrying exclusively local designers. But I’d say quality and originality are our two main traits.
What can we expect to see next?
Expect? Our best quality is that we’re unpredictable!
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- R.Pepin
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