Moxie Child is all about spirit and courage. And fancy dresses.

It is a shop where a traditional pink party dress for a little girl might be paired with leopard-print leggings, where diaper bags are pretty enough to be fashion accessories, where teddy bears are dressed in vintage fabrics.

“I think it’s a great place to find something unique,” said Sandy Volpintesta, who works at the shop.

Owner Cherri Cape said she and her husband, Fritz, bought the downtown Racine storefront, 304 Sixth St., more than a decade ago as an investment. The couple then owned a real estate company in Racine, and Cherri was busy running that business.

But in the back of her mind, she said, she always liked the idea of opening a boutique.

“I’ve really always believed in downtown,” Cape said, adding that she grew up in the city, raised her family in a house a short walk from the historic Main Street, and recently moved with her husband into a downtown condo. “I always wanted to open a store downtown.”

Three years ago she decided it was time to make the leap. To get ready, she took a class for small business owners through the Racine Economic Development Corporation, and along with her daughters, Charity Chiappetta and Heidi Peterson, settled on opening a children’s boutique.

“We had our grandchildren, and we would have to travel far and wide to find the type of unique things we were looking for” when buying gifts for the kids, she said. “We thought it would be great to have something like that right in Racine.”

They settled on the name Moxie Child, liking the idea of kids filled with a spirit of courage and adventure.

The shop features clothing from infant through size 12 for girls, size 10 for boys, along with toys, jewelry and accessories. It is a popular spot to shop for new baby gifts and for special party dresses. The shop carries brands that are not found in most department stores, and usually stocks just one of each size for clothing they carry.

In November 2009, Racine residents gave the shop their seal of approval in a local poll, naming Moxie Child the best place to shop for children.

“Our real focus is customer service,” Cape said. The shop offers personal shopping, free gift wrapping and help for customers looking to accessorize. She and her staff love to help customers pick out the perfect gift, or watch little girls settle on the perfect dress.

“To see them come out of the dressing room and twirl around, so happy,” Cape said. “That’s the most fun.”