MURFREESBORO – Two new stores at Kings Landing Shops are hoping to be “the cat’s meow” in town.

Last week, clothing boutique The Cat’s Meow and gift shop Sandra’s Designs celebrated their grand openings with a pair of ribbon cuttings.

Both shops have stores based in Franklin, Va., but a chance meeting with a local civic organization helped the owners bring satellite businesses below the state line.

According to Debbie Crowder, the owner of The Cat’s Meow, it all began when the Melrose Women’s Club invited her to do a scarf tying class. That eventually led to a fashion show at Kings Landing.

Crowder has been in business in the Franklin area for the past 10 years. Last year she opened her store in Franklin and when boutique space eventually opened up, Kings Landing co-owner Laurie Brook invited Crowder to be a part their shops.

“We love the building,” said Crowder. “We feel welcomed here.”

She also liked the idea of the space in Kings Landing being a gathering place for people and potential customers with the coffee shop and different activities going on (music performances, social gatherings).

Crowder soon convinced her friend Sandra Brinkley (whose shop is next-door in Franklin) to also open a space in Kings Landing.

The Cat’s Meow offers jewelry, handbags, name-brand ladies clothing (including plus size), children’s clothing, accessories, gifts as well as monogram appliqué and vinyl items by The Dog’s Bark.

Sandra’s Designs sells Willow Tree items, tumblers, Crossroads candles and other seasonal gifts.

“We hope to offer people in Murfreesboro something different and help them with what they’re looking for,” said Crowder.

She added The Cat’s Meow store staff is willing to assist customers with purchasing needs even if the store does not carry the item.

“We’ll search for it and try to find it,” she said.

Brook said the addition of The Cat’s Meow and Sandra’s Designs opens the variety offered to customers at Kings Landing Shops.

“We wanted a clothing boutique in here,” said Brook. “It has the atmosphere we wanted and it’s brought different foot traffic here.”

Brook said the whole concept behind Kings Landing is starting to fall into place with different retail and services offered to citizens in town.

“The idea was to give people something else to do in Murfreesboro,” she said.

King’s Landing Shops is opened Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.

For more information call 252-396-7424.