First Posted: 10/28/2011

PEMBROKE — Tonya Locklear has a long list of responsibilities as a wife, mother, teacher and full-time student, but she recently decided to add one more: business owner.

The Pembroke native opened Glitz and Glamour Boutique in Pembroke Oct. 21, and is so far enjoying her new role.

“I have no retail experience, so this is something new, but it’s also exciting,” Locklear said. “I did a lot of research and so far it’s been going great.”

The store, located at 508 B E. Third St. in Pembroke, is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Locklear, the store’s sole employee, is on maternity leave from her other job as a seventh-grade science teacher at Red Springs Middle School. She plans to hire another person once she starts teaching again.

The store sells items for women and children, like handbags, jewelry, rugs, frames, sunglasses, clothes, coats and monogrammed and personalized accessories. Locklear does the personalization herself.

Locklear is in her last year of the master’s program at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke for mental health counseling.

She is enjoying meeting new people who patronize the business.

“A lot of individuals, especially college students are stopping in,” Locklear said. “ … I pretty much wanted a store that I could call my own that actually tailors to not just certain people but to all.”