Mōka Boutique has long been a beloved part of downtown Bozeman’s retail landscape, known for its eclectic style, welcoming atmosphere, and commitment to community. In this Q&A, owner Nancy Mahoney shares her unexpected journey from anthropology professor to boutique owner, the values that guide Mōka’s carefully curated brands, and what excites her most about the shop’s new Main Street location, along with the people and passion that make Mōka truly special.
Tell us a little bit about your personal story and how you came to be the owner of Mōka.
Mōka was a big left turn for me! I came to Bozeman in 2005 with my husband and two young kids and began teaching anthropology at MSU. I am an archaeologist by training, and I spent most of the next 15 years as a mother and college instructor. When the pandemic hit, I had already decided to take a break from teaching when I noticed The Root went up for sale. It was a favorite place to shop downtown, and a mother/daughter birthday tradition (we are one day apart). I think I secretly always wanted to own my own business, so decided to ask the owner for more details;10 days later we were the new owners. It’s a family joke that we bought a boutique for our birthdays! Six months later we rebranded and changed the name to make it truly ours.
What is the ethos of Mōka when it comes to the products and brands you offer?
It has taken a while to learn this complicated retail landscape and implement our own ethos. We inherited a lot of relationships with brands from the previous owner, and that was a wonderful head start. But over time I began to learn about new brands that brought a different range of styles, fabrics, and sizing options, as well as ethical and sustainable sourcing. As a group, our staff had to decide which brands we want to bring on and which ones to let go, it was a long process. Whenever possible, we prefer to carry local products and sustainable apparel. But we are also
very conscious of affordability, so we try to balance each of those concerns.
Why did you decide to move Mōka to a new location on Main Street?
We have been planning a move for years! We have absolutely loved our location in the Bon Ton building, great business neighbors and an amazing historic structure. But the space has had many challenges because the brick walls are fragile and limit our opportunities for displaying our merchandise. We also needed a larger space. With Schnee’s no longer carrying an array of shoe brands, we saw an opportunity to pick up more brands and create a footwear department. We have begun carrying Birkenstock, Taos, Clarks and Sam Edelman – in addition to Free People shoes –
and the new store will have an entire section devoted to footwear.
What excites you most about the new location?
Everything! The new location is in the historic Cooper Black building at 118 East Main Street, the oldest historic buildings in downtown Bozeman. The owner went to great lengths to preserve the historic façade, and then created an entirely new, larger footprint. The building is now 4 stories (including the basement) and everything is state-of-the-art. We asked to save some of the historical elements before the historic structure was demolished and we will have a small display with photos and artifacts installed in the new space. The Extreme History Project will be helping us with the research and exhibit.
What about Mōka are you proudest of?
Without a doubt that would be the staff! Kayce Schultz has been the store manager since I bought the boutique, and she already had a huge client following from her time there when it was The Root. I have learned so much from Kaycee, and she has stayed with me through a lot of growing pains. Lauren Hutson is the e-commerce and media manager, and she is a force of nature. Lauren started as the manager of Alloy – our separate men’s store (2022-2024) – and her position has morphed and grown as we launched new online shopping platforms. They are the heart and soul
of this business. Both are incredibly creative, hard-working, and always focused on our clients. We have also been incredibly fortunate for all of the other wonderful part-time staff members we have had over the years, including my daughter, who has worked here on and off over the past 5 years.
What sets Mōka apart in the Bozeman boutique scene?
This is a tough question. There are so many wonderful locally-owned boutiques in Bozeman! Perhaps we stand out as a bit more eclectic in our approach to fashion and our product mix. Mōka strives to serve a range of clients from 16 to 60+ which means we have to carry a wide range of apparel, both in terms of basics and stand-out, statement pieces. We also highlight as many local artists as we can, those that make jewelry, bags, tees, candles, stationary and a range of original art. Finally, I would have to say it’s our vibe: we all absolutely love what we do! We approach the
shop from the perspective of hosts and problem-solvers. Our first goal is to make you feel seen and welcomed, to give you as much space or help as you desire, and to make sure you have a wonderful experience in our space – whether or not you make a purchase. We are a downtown resource, ask us anything!
"Our first goal is to make you feel seen and welcomed, to give you as much space or help as you desire, and to make sure you have a wonderful experience in our space."