Meet Kat | The Story Behind Katalina’s Boutique

Hi, I'm Kat, the owner of Katalina's Boutique.

Katalina's wasn't born from a traditional business plan. It really started with my love of travel, fashion, and finding those special pieces you don't see everywhere else.

Before boutique life, I came from the corporate world and eventually took the leap to start my own recruiting business. Whenever I traveled, one of my favorite things to do was shop. I loved coming home with clothing and accessories that felt different—pieces that had a story and weren't hanging in every store back home.

Eventually I thought, why not create a place where I could share those finds with other women?

From an Online Boutique to Capitola Village

I started Katalina's online in Arizona in 2021 with the idea that I could travel, discover beautiful pieces from around the world, and bring them back to my customers. Over the years, I've purchased pieces from Italy, Greece, Egypt and Mexico, and that love of discovering something unexpected is still a huge part of what Katalina's is today.

Then an opportunity came along that I couldn't pass up: opening a boutique in Capitola.

Northern California has always been home to me. I grew up in Los Gatos, and long before Katalina's existed, I loved coming over the hill to Capitola just to walk through the Village, sit by the beach and wander through the shops.

On November 11, 2022, Katalina's Boutique officially celebrated its grand opening in Capitola Village.

That date means more to me than I can put into words.

November 11 was my mom's birthday. I lost her the year before, so now every anniversary of Katalina's is also a day that I get to celebrate her. What started as a store became connected to my family and my home in a way I never could have planned.

A Boutique Built Around Real People

One of the greatest surprises of opening Katalina's has been the people.

I've fallen in love with the Capitola community—the locals, neighboring business owners, families and visitors who walk through our doors.

I love Capitola during every season. In the quieter and rainy months, our locals really shine. They come in for gifts, something new for themselves or simply to say hello. Then the busy seasons bring families who return year after year, visitors spending the day at the beach, and women driving over the hill looking for the perfect outfit for a party, vacation or special occasion.

And then there are the kids.

I absolutely love when they come into the boutique, sometimes more than once in the same day, excited to show me their favorite things. Those little moments are a reminder that this business has become about so much more than clothing.

Our customers are truly what make Katalina's special.

Finding Something You Don't See Everywhere

I have always loved boutiques where you can discover something different.

That's what I want Katalina's to feel like.

I look for unique clothing, accessories, handbags and gifts that make you stop and say, "Where did you get that?" And it's incredibly important to me that women with curves can have that same experience. Style shouldn't be reserved for one size or one body type.

Whether it's a beautiful piece I discovered overseas, a Made in Italy style, an amazing handbag or simply something that makes a woman feel incredible when she puts it on—that's what I'm looking for.

Coming Full Circle in Scottsdale

Arizona has been home to me since 2006, and it's also where Katalina's originally began online.

It's where my son, Jackson, lives—and he is my world.

Becoming an empty nester was actually part of what pushed me into this crazy adventure. Opening the Capitola store gave me a reason to spend more time back home with my Northern California family while still being able to fly back to Arizona and spend as much time with Jackson as I possibly can. And yes, I'll happily fly back just for another opportunity to cook for him.

For years, Arizona customers asked when Katalina's would finally have a Scottsdale location.

Now we've come full circle.

Katalina's Closet has a home inside Bloom Boutiques in Scottsdale, alongside women I've known for nearly 20 years. It feels incredibly special to finally have a physical Katalina's presence in the place where this whole idea originally began.

And Somehow, I Built This

I'll be the first to tell you: I had absolutely no idea how much work owning a boutique would be.

I've built the Katalina's website myself from scratch. I've learned the technology, buying, merchandising, marketing, shipping, SEO and about a thousand other things I didn't even know I needed to know.

I'm still learning every day.

But somewhere between the clothes, the website, the flights between California and Arizona, the late nights and all the craziness, Katalina's became something I'm incredibly proud of.

And none of it happens without the amazing women who help me run our Capitola and Scottsdale locations. My beautiful queens take care of Katalina's, our customers and each other, and I'm incredibly grateful for them.

Most of all, I'm grateful for you.

Every order, every visit, every person who tells a friend about us, every local who walks through the door and every customer who comes back year after year allows this little dream to keep growing.

Thank you for supporting Katalina's, for supporting small business and for letting me share a little piece of something I love with you.

I hope when you shop with us, you find something that makes you feel beautiful, confident and just a little bit special.

With love,
Kat
Owner, Katalina's Boutique & Katalina's Closet