Setting sail

Alicia Robinson

A Balboa Island store specializing in children’s clothes has

relaunched under new ownership.

The S.S. Red Sail is now run by the mother and daughter team of

Jeanne and Regan Stover, who bought the store in December.

They carry sand-and surf-themed outfits, children’s clothing lines

from famous designers and some toys and baby gifts. But much of the

Stovers’ business comes from clothes for baptism and first communion

ceremonies, cotillion, and flower girls and ring bearers.

“I think that’s probably what we’re known the best for is our

special occasion wear,” said Regan Stover, a former dancer who grew

up on Balboa Island and still lives there.

It’s a true family business. Regan buys the clothes, her mother

keeps the store’s books and her father, Bob Stover, is the handyman

who built a display platform for the store’s front window, among

other things.

The store used to carry children’s clothes and antiques when it

was owned by Mariann Reynolds, but the Stovers wanted to focus on the

clothes, Regan Stover said.

“Since my mom and I bought the store we’re trying to combine the

new and traditional,” she said.

T-shirts that say “Balboa Island,” girls’ clothes up to size 16

for bigger girls, and all the accessories to go with fancy dress --

gloves, tights and shoes -- are a few of the specialties that help

the store fill a niche that bigger department stores generally

neglect, Regan Stover said.

She had wanted to take over a dance studio or day-care center to

combine her interest in children with her desire to go into business,

but when she couldn’t find any that were the right size or price, she

and her mom decided to buy S.S. Red Sail.

Jeanne Stover had run a card and gift shop for about 10 years when

Regan was a child, so she applied that business knowledge to the new

venture. Mother and daughter said they’re enjoying working together

and being on the island, where the customers are friendly and they’re

close to home.

People have responded positively to the changes in the store,

Regan Stover said.

She and her mom decided to keep the store’s nautical name because

they wanted customers to know the new owners hadn’t changed

everything, she said.

“Plus it’s kind of catchy,” Jeanne Stover said.