“We are blessed to be here. It’s so beautiful and the people are kind. There is some sort of simplicity to the town and way of life. I take my dog walking every morning and whenever I see people, they smile and wave hello and sometimes even stop to talk. It’s growing, but we still have those small-town moments.”

Laura grew up in Arequipa, Peru, a city that is vastly different than New York City or Park City. She went to a French school that required her to speak both French and Spanish, her native tongue. Her father owned a sock factory, and it was there that Laura learned to discern material quality and nuanced colors.

After managing the Foundry Grill at Sundance Resort, she co-owned a Main Street restaurant, worked as a buyer for a big boutique and helped manage several designer shops. Eventually, she opened Grace Clothiers, a boutique clothing shop on Main Street.

The store is the culmination of years of networking and fashion industry experience. She can source unique pieces of clothing, handmade jewelry and artisan home goods for her loyal Park City clientele. Every September, Laura travels to Europe to acquire clothes for the coming spring. To ensure that the clothes at her shop are always cutting edge, she buys and plans out everything six months in advance.

“What keeps me going is when I can help someone find that perfect item. You can see the joy on their face as they say, ‘Wow, I really love this!’” Laura says.

In addition to helping shoppers find that “wow” item, people often stop by Grace Clothiers just to say hi. Laura has built a dynamic network of friendships, and thanks to the many languages she speaks, it’s not uncommon for someone to come by to see a smiling face and have a conversation in their native tongue.

Many have found a friend in Laura.