New shop opens its doors in downtown Elon

Updated as of 12:52 p.m. on Aug. 27 to include video. 

A new clothing store has set up shop in downtown Elon. The store, named Brown, is expected to be fully operational in the next two weeks, according to store owner Justin Duszlak. 

Brown is located on West Lebanon Avenue, in the store previously used by the boutique Simply Oak before its closing March 31. 

Duszlak said renovations started July 4 and finished updating the storefront in around a month. Duszlak said her goal was to have her store up and running by September for the new school year. But Brown opened earlier than expected on Aug. 22 for Elon’s new student move-in day. Though not fully set up, Brown is welcome to customers stopping in and browsing the store. Duszlak said that Brown is expected to be fully operational in the next two weeks.

Duszlak said she is excited for the Elon community to see her new store since there is something for everyone.

“I love the energy of the students walking by, going to class, on the weekends,” Duszlak said. “I just wanted to bring some cool fashion and things you wouldn’t see, and bring people back to shopping in person.”

Duszlak grew up near the Elon area, and her parents and sister all owned stores in downtown Elon at one point. The name of the store, Brown, is dedicated to her parents, who Duszlak said she wanted to honor as she is following in their footsteps by being a small business owner. Duszlak said that her parents are proud that she is living her dream 30 years after she told them she wanted to start a business. 

“It’s kind of full circle,” Duszlak said. “I said I was going to do this when I was 12 and then again in high school. Elon’s been such a huge part of my family.”

Duszlak said the merchandise in Brown is inspired by different places all over the country and globe. She said she is very particular about what she sells and where it comes from.

“I spent a lot of time looking at the brands and thinking about their state, their mission and how it’s gonna fit within Burlington and the Elon students,” Duszlak said.