Meet the Memphis Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Belle Haven Boutique
Part boutique, part family dream, Belle Haven brings a mother-daughter vision to life. Meet this week's FACES of Memphis — nine-year-old entrepreneur Vivienne Vasaturo and her mom, Lindsay! Image: Pure Pixel Photography
Editor’s note: September 25 is National Daughters’ Day! To celebrate, we’re highlighting mother-daughter duos who are collaborating to inspire the community and excel in business. Enjoy!
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At Belle Haven, the coastal cowgirl vibe is only part of the charm. The boutique is also powered by mother-daughter duo Lindsay Vasaturo and her nine-year-old daughter, Vivienne. Together, they’ve created a brand that feels fresh, stylish, and full of heart. With Lindsay’s entrepreneurial vision and Vivienne’s youthful eye for fun, Belle Haven has quickly become a go-to spot in Memphis for gifts, apparel, and a dose of family-driven creativity.
For Lindsay, retail began long before Belle Haven. “I like to say my career started 38 years ago, when my mom would take me to yard sales in my car seat,” she laughs. That early love of treasure hunting turned into about eight years of success in the resale business.
But when her family settled in Lakeland, she felt a tug toward something new. “I missed being creative and connecting with people,” she says.
She also noticed her growing community was missing a place to find thoughtful gifts and trendy apparel close to home. “That’s when the idea of Belle Haven sparked. I figured I could mix my love of party planning with my desire to be creative, and bring Lakeland their first locally-owned women’s and tween apparel and gift boutique.”
While her husband and two sons often bond over sports, Lindsay wanted something special for her daughter, especially in the vulnerable tween and teenage years. “I hoped Belle Haven could be that connection for Viv and me,” she says. She spent two years dreaming, planning, and learning everything she could, determined to build something meaningful for herself and her daughter.
And what made Vivienne happy about starting a boutique with her mom? “I was excited to have people shop the things I picked out,” she says, remembering her very first choice: a pink velvet journal designed like a gumball machine. “It makes me happy when girls my age want to buy things I choose.”
Belle Haven’s name and style reflect the family’s story. “We combined our favorite places — the southern ‘Belle’ and the coastal word ‘Haven,’ meaning both a safe harbor and a place of refuge,” Lindsay explains. With roots in both the coast and the Mid-South, the name perfectly encapsulates the boutique’s vibe: equal parts sunny shoreline and stylish small-town charm.
The boutique’s “coastal cowgirl” style is also a nod to the family’s journey. “We always thought we would settle somewhere along the Intracoastal Waterway when my husband retired from the Coast Guard, but now that we have discovered Lakeland and retirement is only two years away, I knew I had to find a way to bring the coast to the country. I like to call it Shelby County’s very own Coastal Bungalow,” says Lindsay.
Vivienne describes it in her own way: “It looks like a paradise, like Hawaii. We have fun neon signs that say things like ‘Yay, you’re here!’ and a big tropical leaf wall where we hang Polaroids of customers. It’s really pretty and colorful. It makes me happy!”
Though Vivienne is still young, her influence is unmistakable. She oversees the tween section, handpicks gifts and clothes, and even launched “Viv’s DIY Belle Bar,” where kids can craft alongside her. Her most popular idea? A DIY sunglass station. “It was so fun watching her teach younger girls,” Lindsay recalls.
Vivienne also thrives at the front counter. “My mom taught me how to check people out,” she says. “I just love talking with customers.”
Lindsay handles the day-to-day operations but credits Viv with pushing her to think differently. “She has a fearless personality that makes me braver as a new business owner,” Lindsay says. “She reminds me that entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a business, it’s about building a legacy.”
The Belle Haven duo also enjoys bringing new trends to Memphis. “We were the first in the area to carry the upside-backward trend, and it took off,” Lindsay says. This season, she’s excited about split-crew game-day sweatshirts, already reordered several times thanks to strong demand.
With Memphis’s melting pot of sports fans, Belle Haven carries plenty of college game-day gear — from the Memphis Tigers to Ole Miss to Mississippi State to Alabama — and offers a small selection of the family’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles NFL gear.
Vivienne is excited about their original designs. “Mom and I started making our own t-shirts,” she says. “I love coming up with ideas and seeing my friends wear clothes that I make.”
Like many entrepreneurs, Lindsay admits balance is elusive. “I wish I could say I’ve found the perfect balance between running a boutique, raising three kids, being a wife, a daughter, a friend, and showing up for every school and community event. But the truth is, I’m still figuring it out every single day.”
What keeps her going are the people who walk through Belle Haven’s doors: “The friendships we’ve made, the excitement Viv gets when someone buys her picks, the way the community cheers us on — those moments make me believe we’re on the edge of something great.”
The two also carry advice that keeps them grounded. For Lindsay, it’s a reminder to treat every person with value. She recalls a favorite quote from Mary Kay Ash: “Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around their neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’”
Vivienne treasures a gift from her dad, a book called Have You Filled a Bucket Today? “It’s about people filling other people’s buckets by being kind,” she says. “When we are kind, we fill others’ buckets and our own. When we are unkind to others, we are dipping into buckets. You don’t want to be a bucket-dipper. They’re mean.”
When asked what they can’t live without (besides faith, family, and friends), Lindsay lists a cold Celsius, the sound of ocean waves, and cheering for the Eagles. Vivienne? “My dogs, freeze-dried strawberries, and my Mackenzie Turner plushies.”
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For more inspiring FACES of Memphis, click HERE!
Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.