Rumors Boutique moves to new location on Broad Street

Michael Todd
Staff Writer

Rumors Boutique has made a small change in location that promises big things, but this local hotspot almost closed its doors after a sudden removal left them with no place to go.

Although the move has proven to be one in the right direction, co-owner Marshe Wyche admits that the decision was not the next change on their agenda. Rumors was given two months to pack up their various clothing racks and clear the premises to make room for a new frozen yogurt shop, Wyche said.

The sudden move put considerable strain on the owners’ business and wallets.

When a month’s search yielded no results, the owners turned to VCU and Richmond for assistance. The following week a new lease was signed. Three weeks later, with a little elbow grease and a few helping hands from the community, a revamped Rumors opened its doors for business at 723 W. Broad St., near the corner of Broad and Laurel and less than a mile from its original location on Harrison Street.

“Richmond is our community,” Wyche said in thanks of the responses received from interns and volunteers, who helped make the seemingly impossible move happen. “Out of the whole world, I choose to be here because this is where my heart is.”

This particular block of VCU campus has been receiving a lot of attention as of late, with the promise of the new Institute for Contemporary Art on the corner of Broad and Belvidere, and the completion of new VCU dorms on the corner of Shafer and Grace streets.

“This move was really a blessing in disguise. When I walk into my new store I know it was worth it all,” Wyche said.

With 400 more square feet than the previous location, highway accessibility and more parking, this new location has proven itself well worth the struggle.

“If you had ever shopped at the original Rumors location, you understand how cramped it can be on a busy day,” Wyche said. “We have the capacity to style the whole city and give them a comfortable shopping experience.”

The relocation has inspired Rumors owners to continue expanding in the future. Wyche and co-owner Casey Longyear, a VCU Fashion alumna, said they aspire to spread their “rumors” to similar communities all across the country.

“We are excited to build a Rumors empire,” Wyche said. “We are here to help put money in your pockets and fresh styles in your closet.”

Besides their hopes for future expansion, Rumors’ owners are hopeful that despite the sudden move, the change in location will result in fresh clientele thanks to the amount of traffic on Broad Street.

“There seems to be a bit more options too but the style still remains to be very ‘Richmond’,” said John Le, a sophomore public relations major.

“I’m kind of disappointed with the location though, it seems further away from campus and the store front doesn’t stand out from the rest of the stores on that strip on Broad Street. When I first moved back to Richmond, I passed it a couple of times without even noticing it was there,” he said.

Wyche said more than half of customers that have shopped at the new location have been first-timers.

“We were at our last location for more than 5 years, so it was hard to say goodbye to the home we built,” Wyche said. “But Richmond is growing, and Rumors is growing as well.”