Business Boom
La Grange Main Street businesses
to celebrate several newcomers
Ribbon cutting is scheduled for April 7
LA GRANGE, Ky. (April 2018) – After recently losing a couple of businesses on Main Street in La Grange, Ky., business is now booming with seven businesses either expanding or making the move to both sides of the railroad tracks. Several are planning special ribbon cutting ceremonies to mark the changes.
Mike and Karen Prather, owners of Prather Design Gallery, have recently opened a new gallery at 125.5 E. Main St. Previously, the business operated out of the upstairs space at this address. “We have a studio where we give art lessons,” said Karen Prather. Her husband also ran his graphic design business out of his office.
When downstairs space became available, they jumped at the chance. “You always want to expand your business,” she said.
Prather had been the executive assistant for her husband’s business for the last 25 years and was recently laid off. “I needed something to do. Everything just came into place, and I decided to run the gallery,” she said. Her husband will still operate his graphic design business.
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Photo by Don Ward Several new businesses are opening on La Grange’s Main Street (pictured above). |
Their upstairs studio accommodates two levels of artists, she said. The idea is for these artists to create their artwork upstairs and display it downstairs in the new gallery space. Currently, they feature Mike’s work in the gallery, which includes charcoal illustrations, oil paintings and giclee prints. But they would like for “other artist to feature their work here in the future,” she said.
Lessons will still be taught upstairs on Saturdays. “We hope to have more classes available.”
The Prathers will join other local businesses in taking part in ribbon cutting ceremonies from 10 a.m. - noon Saturday, April 7. Other businesses have either relocated or are new to Main Street.
According to Karen L. Eldridge, executive director of La Grange Kentucky Main Street Program, now is a good time to open a business on Main Street in La Grange.
“With the economy growing, it encourages people to step out on a dream. La Grange is a good place to locate with the reasonable rent and strong community,” she said. “La Grange is heavily promoted through current businesses, Oldham County Tourism, Oldham County Chamber, and La Grange Kentucky Main Street Program. The current businesses are strong, and they help generate traffic for the new businesses, also. Spring is a particularly good time with many events happening. That helps to introduce the new businesses to our guests.”
Two new businesses that have moved to the historic downtown area are Be Unique and Uptown Country. Be Unique has opened at 113 E. Main St. It sells trendy men’s and women’s clothing, from size small to 2X. Eldridge described this business as “trendy and fun.”
Uptown Country is a locally owned business featuring country style items, painted farmhouse furniture and rustic decor. It actually opened for business on Feb. 10 at 115 East Adams St., behind Main Street. They also sell wholesale and customized painting is available.
JSE Comics and Cards has opened in the former Karen’s Book Barn space at 127 E. Main St. It was previously located in the strip center across from Cracker Barrel, but the owners wanted to expand, said Eldridge.
JSE will “fill the entire downstairs space, and they will host gaming tournaments on Friday nights, which will take up half of the space.” Eldridge said they “also wanted to be uptown where kids can walk and the rent is more reasonable than in the newer constructions.”
Local businesswoman Ellie Troutman closed The 1887 Corner Store, but Kim Silcox, owner of the well-established Picked ‘N Painted, has relocated to the this space at 101 E. Main St. Troutman has expanded her other two businesses, Absolutely Fabulous and The Treasured Child.
Silcox has been in business in La Grange since April 2013. “We started in a little bitty house, only 600 square feet. I thought I would never outgrow that space.” One year later she moved and expanded the business at 109 E. Main St.
Originally from Nashville, Tenn., Silcox moved to Crestwood, Ky., and said she “didn’t know what La Grange had to offer until I opened a business here.”
She says the move will quadruple her sales space and afford room for classes. On the day of the ribbon cutting, Silcox plans to offer refreshments and 10 percent off some items. She will have extended hours from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. “We can offer customers more products and more of our time.”
A staple in La Grange for some time, Rainy Day Resale opened its upstairs space in November 2017 to include men’s and boys’ clothing, furniture, antiques, home décor and books.
The downstairs portion was already stocked with women’s and girl’s clothing, jewelry, purses, shoes and accessories.
The consignment business is co-owned by Sue Ann Birchfield and her daughter Raine Wallace. The men’s and boy’s clothing line was added because “there was no place in town to sell or buy men’s clothing after The Affordable Shop and the Bargain Rack closed,” said Wallace.
With the new Downtown Barber business located right around the corner at 107 N. First St., she said they had a “built in clientele.” Wallace and her mother felt that the addition of a men’s and boy’s clothing line would give men something else to do while in town.
Rainy Day Retail has been located in La Grange for a while but moved to its current location at 102 E. Main St. in February 2017. Wallace just wants shoppers to “support your local businesses.”
“This is Picked ‘N Painted and Rainy Day Resale’s third expansion, which is very exciting,” said Eldridge. “They are all strong businesses and have their own niche. JSE Comics and Cards will be a great draw for young adults, plus they will be open later on Friday and Saturday so they will create traffic.”
Another Main Street favorite, Mercantile on Main, is scheduled to re-open on April 14 at 109 E. Main St. The original business opened five years ago. It will feature the creations of local artisans, repurposed and vintage items. Even though it will have a new look and a mix of products, it maintain the same fun experience as the original store.