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March 2012 by Ann R.
Snobby. The one woman working the shop was standing about ten feet from the door, watched me as I walked in, and turned away. No hello, no acknowledgment, nothing. I very much got the sense that I was not welcome. Best guess: you have to the look the part to be welcome to shop there. My Converse sneakers and tatts didn't make the cut, no matter how green my money.
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September 2011 by Joan G.
Warning - mixed review ahead! First let me say I love the look and feel of this shop. I stopped by when I first visited Flirt, saw a sweater I liked but did not purchase it. I went back last week to pick up the sweater (unexpectedly chilly weather and a wedding on Saturday) and ended up buying two, stating I would return the other one once I decided which I preferred. So far so good! I presume I had the same clerk as the previous review since this woman barely acknowledged me much less cared if I bought anything or not. She got disconnected from her phone call or else she probably would not have even taken care of my sale. Well, today I went back to return my sweater (alas neither worked) and I had the same clerk. She promptly informed me that 'you know that will be store credit, right?' I said I had no idea and she then became quite frustrated stating it is on the receipt. It is - 7 day return policy, tags attached, in store credit only. I said is there a sign anywhere? How would I know this before I purchased something? She then became even more rude than she was before telling me I could speak to the owner. I mentioned I was leaving town and she said I don't have the cash to pay you back. I stated I didn't want cash, she could put a credit on my credit card and she said she didn't know how to do that! She called someone over from another store to help her run the credit. She made this a very unpleasant experience from the initial purchase through the return. I would love to talk with the owner but I can't even find a website or email address for her. I would love to like this shop but who needs it when there are shops with much better customer service and friendly staff!
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July 2011 by Mara Z.
Perhaps the previous, glowing reviews of Allee Metro Chic led me to unrealistc expectations? Or, perhaps the timing of my first visit was unfortunate? In such a small store I can definitely understand that the selection is limited, but I was surprised that everything was French Connection, Free People, etc. These are brands I can find in department stores in the cities and probably for better prices. I don't imagine I would make a special trip to St. Paul just to see what collection someone else curated from the dept. store brands.
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January 2011 by Molly H.
First off, I would totally move into this shop if it were a studio apartment, because I love the little brick passageway and the cute little patio there. I adore this store. They seem to balance chic with independent designers, their accessories and shoes are fantastic and they usually have macarons! My one (teeny tiny) issue that that they are a little short on sizing options - they seem to only have one or two of things in little sizes. But otherwise, j'adore!
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January 2011 by Emily H.
Allee: a (literally) hidden gem! Located at the corner of Snelling and Selby, you wouldn't notice this store right off the bat, because the space is literally out of sight from the main road. Look for the subtle little brick passageway in that block of buildings that Patina's located in (walk North on Snelling on that same side of the street and look to your left), and head straight into a pretty little courtyard with an adorable cottage at its center. This window-laden cottage is your destination for unique apparel and excellent service! While the clothes at Allee are generally geared towards women in an older age group than myself (the only reason I'm taking a star off), I have to give it two thumbs up! I went in with my mother one lovely fall afternoon a few months ago, and was enchanted by the adorable little building it's housed in, the simple, chic clothes, and the incredibly friendly staff. My mother (who is super picky about buying new clothes) must have purchased five full outfits on the one trip we made there. I didn't buy anything since I was saving my money for our next stop (wound up buying a really cute sweater dress from the neighboring A. Michele that I'd been coveting for a month!). Though the clothes at Allee don't really fit my personal style, they are very reasonably priced, and have unique (yet timeless) look and quality. The amazing find of the day was an adorable brown wool coat with a ruffled collar, which was so feminine, stylish and flattering on my mother. The only downside was that my mother said the material on the inside of the coat was itchy because it hadn't been lined, but one of the co-owners of the shop (who hand picks all the items they stock, by the way!) offered to knock the price down a bit so my mother could have a tailor put in some proper lining when she returned home. This owner (who's name I'm forgetting...) and the saleswoman who helped us in the beginning, were both so friendly and sweet... to me, they epitomized "Minnesota nice." They told us the story about the beautiful little building the store is located in (it used to be the maintenance man's quarters for the old restored apartments that surround it), as well as how the business started up (it's a mother-daughter venture - we met the mother). Both women took a genuine and active interest in helping us find what we were looking for, eagerly offered to ship most of my mother's clothes back to DC for her. To top it all off, they gave us coupons for a free coffee at Nina's (located further up Selby towards downtown St. Paul) and even made me a cup of tea while I waited for my mom to finish trying on all her clothes. So, to sum up, this is an amazing spot. I'd recommend Allee to most, but I'd definitely emphasize that it doesn't necessarily cater to women in my age bracket (18-25), unless you're looking for something a bit more conservative to wear to the office. Don't let that stop you though! Allee also carries cute shoes and jewelry that I actually would wear, so it's still probably worth a look-see... especially to see the beautiful building it's located in and buddy up to the wonderful folks who work there!
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December 2010 by Annie D.
Follow the small, brick-laden path into the alley next to Flirt and Patina on Selby and Snelling. Didn't know there WAS, a brick-laden path back there? Neither did I. As you walk, forget that you're in St. Paul. It feels more like Paris back there. You'll come to a wee cottage-like house that is just about the most adorable thing you've ever seen. Inside this yellow bungalow, you'll find a cute boutique full of clothing, shoes and accessories by unique designers. Aside from some French Connection, most of the things I picked up were from designers I had never heard of (Annie 50 from Montreal was a favorite... not just for the name) or they were local ones I had heard of (Joynoelle, etc.). The shop lady told me that the owner likes to feature a lot of clothing that can't be found anywhere else or is only available at a few stores. Everything stays fresh, because she'll just get one of each size. Nobody's going to be wearing what you're wearing! The prices were high, but not inaccessibly so. The prices ranged from affordable to not-at-all affordable (on my budget anyway), but Allee would be nice for gifts or for a special occasion. I'll be back when I'm in the mood to own nice things or buy someone else nice things.
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November 2010 by Jennifer S.
A tiny gem tucked away into the depth of Snelling/Selby. You can see their sign posted at this very busy corner, and you may feel a bit tentative when deciding to saunter onto the brick-paved and narrow alley. But, do! You won't be disappointed by the environment you discover back there. It felt like some Parisian neighborhoods I've been in. It's quite beautiful, quiet, and people-free on a recent late Sunday afternoon. This would be a terrific area for a few tall bistro tables and chairs outside in the wintertime with one or two of those tall propane heaters and someone serving coffee, wine and snacks. And then I came upon "Allee". A beautiful boutique with a very pleasant store assistant (she's a shoe model in NYC!!). I loved their offerings, which include things by some local designers, but neither my pocketbook nor my lifestyle supports this selection, except for, maybe, one of their cute $22 t-shirts. Skirts made from vintage wall hangings by a local designer - very cool. Cloth handbags made by a local designer - charming. Italian wools - verrrrry nice. 1940s-inspired pumps -- right up my "Allee".
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October 2010 by Emily G.
A lovely little spot that feels like it's been there forever and you just stumbled upon a well-kept secret. A small, but cohesive selection of clothing: It's either totally your style or it's not. Very friendly staff who were not pushy but happy to let you know about the designer or offer advice.
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September 2010 by Kirsten O.
Nice but spendy. They are still getting ready for their grand opening which is coming up soon so they do not have a ton of stuff but I love the location. Very clever.
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September 2010 by Britt B.
Next time you're prepared to splurge: do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to Allee Metro Chic. Gorgeous, unique dresses, skirts, sweaters, leggings, and accessories imported from Europe. The owner selects and imports everything, mainly from France. She and her daughter were in the store the day a friend and I stopped by. Very nice people and they obviously take great care in selecting the products they sell. The shop itself is ADORABLE!!!! Tucked back in a little alley that has been landscaped and decorated with french signage and lanterns to resemble an old french alley. Chandeliers hang from the center of the shop and a French film is always playing on one wall. I hope people support this independent, locally owned shop by shopping here before checking the mall.
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September 2010 by Kate B.
You are so pretty, Allee. My second visit brought tears of joy, and a few of pain, since I'm not qualified, in the wallet department, to shop here. But those of you who have a couple extra pennies (or benjamins, whatever) in your pocket, I highly recommend the short trip to Rue St. Paul (Snelling, yo) to buy some ultra-swank French Connection dresses, vintage earrings, and bad-ass 40s-style pumps. Drop them off at my house when you're done, okay?
