Cece Minnich became a registered dietitian to help others look and feel good in their own skin. She opened a new boutique in Old Colorado City to do more of the same.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping people feel good about themselves,” she said from her shop late Monday morning, adding that running a boutique is a natural extension of her desire to help others.

Minnich previously served in the Army for seven years as a dietitian. Additionally, she’s worked over the years as a dietitian at Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, at UCHealth Grandview Hospital in northern Colorado Springs, and at Penrose Hospital on North Nevada Avenue.

She still maintains her dietetic registration, the Broadmoor-area resident said.

“I’d just done it (been a dietitian) for so long that I decided I needed to do something different,” Minnich said.

So she did.

Minnich opened Cece’s Boutique at 2532 W. Colorado Ave. in October. With the help of her associate Lisa Taylor, Minnich sells a variety of women’s clothing, boots and jewelry alongside artwork from local artists.

The shop also allows Minnich to interact with her customers face-to-face, which she enjoys. She wanted to open her store in Old Colorado City because of its tight-knit feel and the many small businesses that have set up shop there.

“I just love the feel of small, local shops,” Minnich said.

Offering a reasonable price point for the fashions she sells was also important to her.

“I wanted to provide unique, beautiful, quality clothing for a reasonable price. Some people have come in and told me they can’t find good clothing items for less than $100 apiece. And here I am, like, ‘I sell T-shirts for $13.99!’” Minnich laughed.

Cece’s Boutique is open all week: Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Find the shop on Instagram @cecesboutiqueco.