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Dwin Dykema, center with scissors, celebrates the grand opening of her business, Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom, located at 600 N. Lafayette St. in Greenville, during a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce on June 26. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
GREENVILLE — With more than 50 years of experience in the dress and garment industry, Dwin Dykema has no shortage of knowledge and know-how when it comes to helping individuals feel beautiful.
“When people ask me what I do, I tell them: I make women beautiful,” she said.
Having worked in the dress industry since 1972, with locations over time from Traverse City to Kentwood, Dykema has found the latest home for her business — Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom — in Greenville.
On June 26, Dykema celebrated the grand opening of her new location at 600 N. Lafayette St. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“I think it’s going to be a really good location,” she said. “I’ve had a really good reception so far.”
With a reputation built on customer service and what she says is an unmatched selection of dresses — with more than 10,000 gowns, 2,000 pairs of shoes and six full cases of jewelry — Dykema said she has everything a high school student or bride-to-be would need to be properly outfitted for a school dance or wedding.
Dykema previously operated her business on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids, but said in 2023, after 18 years, the landlord of her building chose not to renew her lease.
“I reached out to God, and he said, ‘Buckle your seat belt, it’s going to be a rugged year coming up.’”
As a result, Dykema began looking for a new location, and eventually her prayers were answered in the form of a new location in Greenville.
In July of last year, she acquired the former Mobile Audio building on a land contract from building owner Davide Uccello.
Dykema spent the past 10 months renovating the 8,000-square-foot space, which is now filled with tens of thousands of dresses, many by her own design.
“Whether you’re shopping off the rack or placing a special order, you’ll find gowns, veils, undergarments and more, all available for immediate purchase,” she said.
While Dykema has primarily operated within the market of the greater Grand Rapids area, she believes she will be just as successful in Greenville.
“Girls will drive from Grand Rapids to Becker’s Bridal in Fowler, they will drive to Chicago for that perfect dress,” she said. “I believe they will drive to Greenville.”
Dykema said her store will offer a “down-to-earth” experience, with a focus on prom, homecoming and wedding dresses.
“I’m now open and I’m ready to work,” she said. “I’m excited. I feel like there’s a lot of potential here. I hope people will make an appointment, that way I can run the store rather than have the store run me.”
Dykema said it is her preference to work within the budget of her customer, rather than attempt to push expensive dresses out the window.
“I will take them to the area of the store where we have dresses that will best meet their needs,” she said. “I’m really excited to listen to the customer and move the business in the direction that the customers need.”
The name of the business was derived out of an attempt to connect with customers of all cultures.
Dykema said when she previously operated in a location in Kentwood, she had many customers who spoke a variety of different languages.
She rebranded her store as Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom because bella translates to “beautiful” in multiple languages, and sposa translates to “bride.”
“Bella Sposa is here to help make your dream look a reality,” she said.
In welcoming Dykema to the community, Mayor Jeff Scoby said Greenville could become the next hot spot for wedding dresses following the opening of Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom this year and La Bridal Loft last year.
“I want to thank you for opening up a business in the Greenville community, we really appreciate that,” he said. “You seem to be starting a trend. Greenville might be becoming the place to come to for homecoming, prom and wedding dresses. Maybe that’s what Greenville is turning into.”
Chamber Executive Director Jen Radtke said she has full confidence that Dykema will be successful.
“It’s just great to have another option in town,” she said. “It becomes a buyer’s market when you bring more than one business like this. It will help our community, it will help business owners — it helps everybody.”
Radtke noted that one of Dykema’s customers included Chamber summer intern Audrey Belding, who purchased her homecoming dress last year from the business.
“Dwin is very hands-on,” she said. “She’ll make sure the dress fits right and her alterations, she just does an incredible job. She is fantastic.”
Among those who were beyond impressed with the job Dykema did in renovating the building was friend Suzanne Walters of Sparta.
In attending the grand opening, Walters marveled at the transformation the interior of the building received.
“When my daughter got married, I went to Bella Sposa on Plainfield and she hooked me up — we’ve been friends ever since,” she said. “When she found this place and moved the semis full of dresses here, I said I would help, but I just couldn’t see it. But she had a dream, again, and now here she is and it’s just gorgeous.”
Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom’s current hours are Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, appointments are currently requested.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling (616) 364-0777 or emailing bellasposabridal@gmail.com.
Seeking information on vandalism incident
Bella Sposa Bridal & Prom, which just recently opened at 600 N. Lafayette St. in Greenville, was the victim of severe vandalism over the Fourth of July weekend. The north entry door and windows were smashed and gowns worth thousands of dollars were damaged and strewn through the woods.
Greenville Department of Public Safety Director Brian Blomstrom said his department is investigating and anyone with information about the vandalism is encouraged to call the GDPS at (616) 754-9161.
