by Dr. Alan Bagby
Travel down 220 South from Roanoke to the city of Martinsville, where you’ll find a specialty women’s shop in which colors, designs and creations jump out at you as soon as you walk in the door. It is ARIEL’S located at Patrick Henry Mall – 730 E. Church St., owned and operated by Ariel Millner who, 42-years ago started her dream of opening her own store.
Ariel stated recently that she had always had this dream and had always loved fashion and enjoyed making women look and feel good and what better way than by dressing them up with pretty and creative clothing. Ariel’s clothes have a special flair and are designs not normally seen in department stores or even women boutique shops in the area. Ariel relayed how at first it took awhile for business to pick up and to secure customers. Some of her current customers she had at Globman’s where she worked prior to opening her business. She happily pointed out how some of her current customers have been shopping with her for the entire 42-years. Upon a recent visit to her store, I met one of the ladies; a regular and loyal 42-year customer and she happily reported there is no store for her like Ariel’s. I have shopped there for at least 25 years consistently for my mother for birthdays and Christmases. Ariel has had notable personalities visit her store including Gospel Legend Dorothy Norwood who was simply amazed and appeared to buy every outfit she saw.
Ariel orders her clothes from all over the world and she is a regular attendee and participant at the Apparel Mart in Atlanta, GA. Plan to visit her clothing store for the best in quality women’s fashions.
