She left the art gallery and gift boutique she co-owned in Old Town Lansing shortly after it opened. Last February, Schriner opened Grace — a women’s boutique carrying everything from cocktail dresses and shoes to jewelry and the shop’s own line of signature purses.

“The store is a women’s boutique with a classic feel to it. I’ve always loved classic style,” Schriner said. “I feel like Lansing was missing this type of niche.”

An attorney by trade, Schriner said it bothered her that there wasn’t a store in the capital city that offered customers an intimate shopping experience and quality of selection found in boutiques.

“You get a level of personal service here that you don’t get elsewhere,” Schriner said. “It’s sad to me when you go to a place in the mall and you’re lucky if someone makes eye contact with you.”

To make sure every customer at Grace, 115 W. Grand River Ave., receives one-on-one help, Schriner remains the shop’s only employee aside from a close friend who occasionally fills in for her at the store.

“It’s a better way for me to know a person is getting the level of service that is important to me,” Schriner said.

For human biology senior Kristin Kalember, Grace offers a variety of classic and feminine clothing and accessories at an affordable price — part of the reason Kalember tries to stop into the shop every few months to look through recent shipments.

“Summer has an eye for classic design,” Kalember said. “I wish my closet was this store.”

Many of the shop’s customers are 20- to 30-year-old business women or individuals looking for a gift, but Schriner said she has seen an increased number of students browsing through her racks of cocktail dresses.

“In the clothing industry, you need to order a good six months in advance, so you have to predict what will sell well,” Schriner said.

Schriner said she carries between three and six dresses of each style.

“I think the most important thing for me is that people have a good experience,” Schriner said.