A San Francisco-based women’s lifestyle and clothing boutique is bringing its curated retail concept to Boston’s Back Bay.
According to recent city business filings, Isalis will open at 168 Newbury Street, marking its fifth location overall and first in New England. The expansion is confirmed by a recent Instagram post from local photographer Bret Clancy, along with a LinkedIn job listing from the company seeking a store manager.
Founded in 2017 by Christina Battle and Louisa Young, Isalis was created with a mission to “make the in-store shopping experience fun again,” launching at a time when brick-and-mortar retail was rapidly declining. The founders leaned into a highly personal, design-forward approach to stores, positioning each location as an extension of a customer’s ideal closet.
“Opening a store is a very personal experience,” the company’s website reads. “As two female entrepreneurs, we fell in love with the process of designing the stores while ensuring that your shopping experience was our highest priority. We want to think of our stores as an extension of your dream closet. Isalis isn’t re-inventing the wheel. We are going back to retail’s roots, offering exciting products and personal service. We bring you a curated collection of sought-after brands and trend-focused pieces every month, as well as core classics that are anything but basic.”
Rather than operating as a traditional department store, Isalis curates a rotating mix of trend-driven pieces and everyday staples, carrying more than 70 brands including Paloma Wool, House of Sunny, Agolde, and Selkie, along with home, body, and gift lines. The in-house Isalis label complements the lineup.
Existing Isalis boutiques can be found in San Francisco and New York City. While an official opening date for the Newbury Street location has not yet been announced, the job listing indicates that it is expected to open in Boston before the end of summer 2026.
