St. John boutique: Gracie Miller will retire for sure this time around

Gracie Miller, owner of T.O.G. Boutique in St. John, will say farewell to her shop at the end of August as she moves on to retirement.

The T.O.G. Boutique has provided St. John residents with clothing, jewelry and footwear for seven years. Before moving to St. John, Miller ran her boutique in Colfax at Grady's Corner.

Miller said when the building sold in Colfax, she found the opportunity to move back to her hometown when a storefront was up for sale in St. John.

She said she resides only seven miles from the town. Her sister helped her with the shop, too.

"I know about three-fourths of the people from St. John, and I'm probably related to half of them," Miller said.

At age 78, Miller said it was time to retire. A couple years ago she tried to retire and even had a retirement party, but said the next day she said to herself, "No, I'm re-opening tomorrow."

This time the retirement will be for sure.

"I'm going to miss everyone," she admitted.

Plans are already in place for the store building after August. St. John Heritage Museum plans to start Re-New, a recycled clothing and small items store.

Volunteers will run the store, and the majority of earnings will go toward scholarships for St. John Endicott High School graduates.

The store will also accept donations from residents.