New boutique brings new trends to newly renovated building

By PARKER JONES For The Jefferson Herald

A new boutique in Jefferson hopes to keep shopping dollars in Greene County, while offering a bit of flair.

The Funky Zebras clothing boutique held its grand opening June 5 in downtown Jefferson.

The boutique is part of a chain of Funky Zebras establishments, with other individually-owned and -operated locations in Ames, Ankeny and other cities throughout Iowa and the Midwest. The other locations will consult with the new Jefferson store, providing assistance with a range of needs from buying retail products to putting them on shelves.

Jefferson’s Funky Zebras is located at 205 N. Wilson Ave., in a historic building originally known as The Harness Shop. It was built in 1894 to sell harnesses and other farm supplies and then housed a multitude of businesses over the years, including music and auto supply stores, before finally being acquired by the city of Jefferson in 2015.

In March, the building was sold and renovated to become the Funky Zebras shop, which primarily sells women’s clothing, shoes, accessories and home decor.

The owner of the Jefferson establishment is Meghan Von Behren, a Des Moines native. Von Behren works as a loan officer with Midwest Heritage Bank and now lives in the Ames area with her husband, Jesse, and three children Rya, 9, Ada, 7, and KJ, 5. Von Behren also is the head coach for the “Little Cyclones” Ames High School softball team.

Von Behren said Funky Zebras aims to provide a fashionable, contemporary selection for its patrons. Clothes are offered in sizes XS to XXXL.

“We buy a lot of brands that are in L.A.,” Von Behren said. “Whatever is trendy.”

Opening day was well-received, with the store overflowing with interested patrons. Going forward, the boutique will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and closed on Sunday and Monday.

The store also offers private shopping appointments, bridal showers, office gatherings, “girls’ night out” events and fundraising parties for schools or other organizations. Interested customers can visit facebook.com/thefunkyzebrasjefferson to register for events and find out about special offers, updates to inventory and more.

Von Behren said the Funky Zebras boutique ultimately will provide a unique shopping experience to draw in more people to the downtown Jefferson area, and boost the local economy in doing so.

“The idea or the goal is to keep more of the residents here in Jefferson and in Greene County rather than, say, to the Jordan Creek mall,” Von Behren said, “to help just continue to grow the city and the town square and just Greene County in general.”