Inside Woolen Mill Clothier, located at 257 Chestnut St in Meadville, the experience is as refined as the pieces that line its racks—timeless styles, rich fabrics, and carefully selected collections that bring both sophistication and versatility to downtown Meadville. For this installment of Meeting Meadville, Kelly Rhoades, of Kelly Rhoades Photography, spent time with owner Sue Wycoff at the Chestnut Street boutique to learn how a family-rooted passion for retail and a vision for community revitalization have shaped a shopping experience centered on quality, personal service, and lasting style.
Meeting Meadville with Kelly Rhoades
It was so wonderful to have a chance to spend time with these three lovely ladies, and explore the exquisite items they have to offer. If you’re searching for quality, high-end items, look no further! Each piece you encounter at the Woolen Mill features fine fabrics and is made to last! There is no shortage of timeless pieces that will never go out of season. From winter whites to rich emeralds, to classic blues…there is something for everyone! The customer service is top-notch and they are ready to find you the perfect look for any occasion. I had a great time getting to know Sue Wycoff and learning about her vision, which came to life!
Tell us a little about your business!
“We are a women and men’s boutique located at the corner of Chestnut St and Park Ave in downtown Meadville. We offer exemplary customer service and a wide selection of styles. We have recently expanded our men’s lines. The guys can find anything from rustic (Royal Robbins) to semi-formal (Alan Paine) to eclectic (A Fish Named Fred) along with O’Neill, Johnnie-O, Mizzen and Main, and…for the golfers: Turtleson. Our ladies find our favorites, Jude Connally, Tyler Boe, Nic and Zoe and FDJ, to name a few! We’ve also added Karen Kane and Six Fifty this year. Our staff is familiar with all of our lines, and is ready to help curate an outfit for a special occassion or an entire wardrobe for a trip. And, we didn’t forget the little ones–we have an adorable section with gifts for ages 0-7.”
What inspired you to start your business?
“My sister, Sandy Wycoff is my partner, and we grew up in Meadville. Our mom, Dot Wycoff, owned the Tik Tok Shop, a women’s dress shop on Market Street. Sandy has owned retail stores on Cape Cod for 45 years. So, you could say it’s in our blood–or that we love clothes. We wanted to create a beautiful shopping experience in Meadville and help jump start a revitalization of the downtown. In 2016, we found the perfect building and opened in June, 2017. We are still working on that revitalization as we move into 2026!”
What is something that makes your business unique?
“Aside from our gorgeous building and fabulous inventory, we have an outstanding staff ready to provide the best personal service. We love to hear our customers stories and create relationships. If we don’t know your name when you arrive, we will when you leave! Joan, June, Kelly and Pam are amazing and have extensive knowledge of our inventory in order to find exactly what a customer is looking for. We provide free gift wrapping all year long, but especially love our holiday wrapping. There will be rows of bags with wrapped packages waiting for pickup in the very near future!”
In your opinion, what is the best thing about Meadville?
“Meadville is such a hidden gem. We live in a highly affordable area with outdoor activities available year round. For me personally, I love the fact that it’s possible to actually make a difference here if one is interested. The town continues to welcome everyone and make a place for them.”
Which Meadville business, aside from your own, is your favorite?
“As a downtown business owner, it is my pleasure to support all of our local businesses. There is a brick and mortar location, owned by a friend, for almost everything I need.”
Be sure to pop into The Woolen Mill to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list!
You can scroll through the visual story using the gallery below. You can also see the original post on Kelly Rhoades’ Facebook Page here. (Be sure to Like and leave a nice comment too!)
Kelly Rhoades is helping to Make Meadville through her work on this project. If you’d like to see Kelly’s full portfolio of work and book a session, go to her website at www.kellyrhoadesphotography.com
