A cafe and a boutique are new additions in Downtown New Haven.

By Chris Rhatigan

Oct 28, 2020

NEW HAVEN, CT —Yale University Properties has announced two recent women-owned business openings in downtown New Haven: a cafe and a boutique.

One is SoBol New Haven, a healthy cafe at 320 Congress Ave., specializing in acai, pitaya (also known as dragon fruit), sunshine and super green bowls and fruit smoothies. All of these are blended fresh daily with premium ingredients delivered each morning.

Owner Patti Ochsendorf works alongside her daughter Rebecca, who is the full-time manager. Patti Ochsendorf resides in Connecticut with her husband and two children.

Ochsendorf said in a statement: "I chose New Haven to open my business because of the variety of businesses, vibrancy and high foot traffic. This particular location was a perfect fit for SoBol New Haven, which fills a gap for healthy food offerings in this area...I plan to be very involved in the community."

For more information, go to SoBol.com.

More Amour Boutique is described as a "fashion forward black-owned woman-owned small business." The shop is located at 43 Whalley Ave. and focused on unique women's apparel and accessories that are edgy and retro chic.

All pieces are sourced by owner Kimberly Sewell-Poole, who resides in Connecticut with her husband. She gained her interest in fashion at a young age from her uncle, a fashion designer for Beyoncé and House of Deréon, who would give her prototypes and pre-production sample pieces regularly.

Before opening her dream boutique, Kimberly worked for Neiman Marcus & Saks Fifth Avenue.

"I have been in the fashion industry for more than 10 years and love everything about it. During visits to New Haven to see my in-laws, I would frequently stop downtown. I immediately fell in love with the area. The moment I saw my storefront for lease, I knew it was a dream come true," said Sewell-Poole in a statement.

More information can be found at MoreAmourBoutique.com.

"We are delighted to continue to see the expansion of local, women-owned businesses in New Haven," Lauren Zucker, Yale University Associate Vice President for New Haven Affairs and University Properties, said in a statement. "Yale University's community investment program supports independently-owned businesses, bringing jobs to New Haven residents and expanding the city's tax base."