In the heart of downtown San Bernardino, where small businesses continue to shape the city’s indefinite but visible revitalization, Three Little Blue Bryds has built more than just a boutique, it’s definitely a treat for the fashion-conscious community.
The store, founded by Tia Lynn Johnson and Erica Jorden, serves as a fashion hub, a community gathering place and a training ground for small businesses – a role the owners say has grown through family inspiration, personal dedication and a deep hands-on vision.
Johnson said the idea started with his longtime desire to reopen the store after owning one in Las Vegas. In April 2024, that opportunity arose again when he was offered a 1,700-square-meter in the city after sharing his dream with a local property owner. When his first plan to open a business with his sister fell through, he called Jorden.
“I thought you wouldn’t ask,” Jorden remembers saying to him. Jorden said he already had “visions and dreams” that the two of them should open a store together.
The store’s name also comes from a shared family thread. Johnson said her mother kept glass bluebirds in the home she grew up in, while Jorden’s mother also collected birds, giving the business a name based on memory, family and symbolism.
From the beginning, the work was at a very low level.
Johnson said the mall started as an “empty shell” with no counters, dressing rooms or offices. The couple drew the dressing rooms themselves, including one designed to accommodate a person who uses a wheelchair, selected colors and wallpaper, sourced materials and relied on family members to help organize the space.
“The bottom line is that every dollar that we had, every penny that we had, as far as domestic disputes, went into this area,” Johnson said. He said the business received one $5,000 grant from Route 66, which helped fund its sales process, but most of the investment came from the owners directly.
Jorden described the beginning in similarly personal terms.
“We put a lot of sweat and tears into this store, and everything we did was really from the heart, and it felt good to open those doors for the first time,” he said.
Inside, the boutique has a bohemian-inspired boho that the owners say is shaped less of their homes than what they felt was logical and acceptable. Johnson said initial impressions included the feeling that the store “wasn’t San Bernardino,” but the owners are determined to create something unique for the city.
That commitment goes hand in hand with inventory. The owners say they source most of their inventory from showrooms in Los Angeles, prioritizing quality and avoiding an overly commercial look. They usually only buy four to six pieces of an item so that customers don’t see everyone wearing the same outfit.
“We never came back,” Johnson said. “Our quality is everything,” Jorden added.
The store’s clothing generally ranges from $20 to $80, which the owners said reflects their emphasis on durability and repeat wear rather than fads.
“If you can still wear something you bought 10 years ago, then you have a lot of money,” Jorden said.
However, the owners said the reality of owning a small business is still difficult. Inventory and cash flow are constant problems, especially since both women continue to work outside the store.
Jorden said: “I would love to do more. But everything we do for the store comes out of our own pockets. Johnson said the financial problems affect everything from supplies to employees and the ability to keep the store open. “We can’t hire you because we don’t have the cash flow,” he said.
Johnson says the boutique’s journey has also been made by a great personal loss. Her husband, Sam, died in February 2026, adding another layer of grief to an already difficult chapter as she worked to keep the business afloat despite financial problems and limited support.
Johnson also admitted that more difficult problems took a toll on emotions. He said that there have been times in recent times when the thought of closing has crossed his mind due to the lack of support, but he is moving forward and still hopes that the business can continue to grow. He said the decision was strengthened during a particularly frustrating time when San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran visited the store and urged the owners not to give up.
Internet sales have helped alleviate some of that pressure. Johnson says the retail site has become a major source of revenue within the first year, and even small online orders have had a real impact.
After shipping one order, Johnson said, a customer emailed her saying, “Thank you, I can see you put your heart into the package.”
But Three Little Blue Bryds has also grown into a public space. The owners say they have hosted women’s days, painting events, social gatherings, sound bath lunches, private events and even marriage proposals.
The boutique also works with Operation New Hope, which connects the store with youth aged 16 to 24 for job training. Johnson said some participants have advanced in the same roles, while others have experience in positions and management.
“I feel like we’re now a center for that training, especially in the stores,” he said.
For Johnson, the most powerful brand that a retail store makes an impact isn’t always on sale.
“Sometimes when we come in here we don’t have a sale, but when someone comes in to sit on the bed and say hello, that’s a big proof of how powerful we are here,” he said.
For Jorden, the reward is simple: seeing customers connect with the store.
“I like that people like what we’ve done,” he said.
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