Wilmington residents will have more unique clothing options this fall as the owners of two new stores -- one on Military Cutoff Road and another on Castle Street -- plan to begin welcoming customers in the coming weeks.

Elle, a women's clothing boutique that will feature "desk-to-dinner" apparel and evening gowns, along with shoes and jewelry, is expected to open in Unit 105 at 1437 Military Cutoff Road by around Oct. 18, said owner Alycia James.

Her daughter, Gabrielle Dorn, will be the store's manager and buyer. 

Meanwhile, Jess James (no relation to Alycia James) hopes to open her vintage clothing and accessory store, Jess James + Co., at 511 Castle St. in November.

The upfit for Elle, handled by Monteith Construction, was expected to be complete this week, and the space's design includes a combination of rustic and contemporary elements, with seating for customers. 

"We want to get to know our customers really well and have a personal relationship with them, so that's a really good way of inviting them to just stay," Dorn said. "They can come here and hang out and not just in-and-out shop."

Dorn and Alycia James expect to bring in many customers who work in the area around Progress Point, the mixed-use center near the corner of Military Cutoff and Eastwood roads where Elle will open soon.

"It's great to have the road frontage, but there are so many companies establishing around here -- you think about nCino and CastleBranch and so many of the companies that are in this area, and this is where a lot of folks come to grab lunch, breakfast, stop in to run some errands," Alycia James said. "This is the shopping mecca of Wilmington -- the Mayfaire area."

Alycia James has a business background in health care consulting, while Dorn, who graduated from Indiana University in May, has experience in fashion and retail, including an internship with Jill Stuart in New York. Among more than 30 different brands and designers will be Cinq a Sept, Jill Stewart evening gowns and Vince Camuto shoes.

Dorn and Alycia James are originally from Chicago.

"Wilmington is growing in terms of startup companies and technology, so I think we're able to bring a little bit of that bigger city influence of style and appeal to the young professionals who are migrating here," Alycia James said.

F. Spruill Thompson, of Wilmington-based real estate firm Cape Fear Commercial, brokered the lease for Elle and the landlord. The store is in part of the space formerly occupied by a Learning Express toy store.

For Jess James, the opening of a storefront is a dream come true and the result of a friendship with a Castle Street antique store owner. Jess James moved to Wilmington more than a decade ago, opening a second-floor showcase space at 21 Market St. mainly by appointment about a year-and-a-half ago.

Jess James' new leased space at 511 Castle St. has been home to Francine's Castle & Cottage Antiques. Owner Frances Nichols has retired.

"She reached out to me and suggested I consider taking on that space because she was encouraging me and thought I might be ready for a retail storefront," Jess James said Thursday. "I'd been going there for years, finding treasures, and we just really developed a friendship." 

In addition to vintage clothing and accessories, Jess James + Co. will offer John McNair's vintage prints and some select men's items, such as vintage ties, suspenders and barware. She shares the building with Elsewhere Salon, and a backyard could serve as a collaborative event space, Jess James said.

"I think it's going to evolve into more than a boutique," she said.

Jess James said in a recent email that she is "excited to join the creative community on Castle Street who dedicate their time to breathing new life into all things old & beautiful."

She said, "I will be giving the Castle Street shop a makeover, but plan to open with regular hours in early November."