Building the Valley: Arnold woman fulfills dream by opening Lower Burrell bridal shop

Through all the ups and downs, fashion has always been a big part in Precious “GiGi” Jones’ life.

And now, the time is right for her to open a bridal boutique in Lower Burrell.

“This is my dream — to not only make people feel beautiful but to make them feel comfortable,” said Jones, 63, of Arnold.

Jones opened GiGi Bridal & Boutique on March 9 at 2719 Leechburg Road.

“I wanted to make affordable beauty available to everybody,” she said.

The boutique offers bridal and prom dresses, tuxedos and accessories.

“It’s her dream,” said her husband of 41 years, Carmen. “She’s been talking about this (since) when we got married.”

Jones said she grew up a coal miner’s daughter in Avonmore. She graduated from Burrell High School and, later, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

She had a 34-year career working at Carnegie Mellon University before deciding to set up shop in Lower Burrell.

“There, I learned a lot of transferable skills that prepared my path for this career,” she said.

She said her parents, Perry and Patricia Pilson, made her the woman she is today.

“I’m so grateful that my mother taught me how to stand tall. She taught me how to be a woman,” Jones said. “They gave me the structure and the roadmap for me being the woman I am today.”

Jones also is involved in the community as a member of Community Baptist Church in New Kensington.

Opening the bridal store has been a labor of love for Jones. She planned to open the store about two years ago with her best friend and “partner in crime,” Tracey Pryor.

Pryor passed away before they could open. After losing her, it was hard to move forward, Jones said.

“The labor was pushing through loss,” she said. “I’m working really hard to make our dream come true.”

Jones is a breast cancer survivor. At the store, she plans to hold community events and invite doctors to speak on women’s health.

She’s grateful for the generosity from the Lower Burrell residents. As she was setting up the store, she said, people would walk in and ask what’s happening and express their appreciation for having a bridal shop available to them in the city.

The store also is Lower Burrell’s first minority-owned bridal boutique, a status that is meaningful to Jones.

“I don’t take that lightly at all because I believe women before me plowed the way for me,” she said.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

Jones looks forward to helping women say yes to the dress.

“I hope this is a place where they can find that dress — and find that spark and hope,” she said.