The Place Off Line promises to be always evolving, never boring
When Knox Goodman closed her iconic clothing boutique at 714 Azalea Drive last December, the impact was felt not only by local fashion enthusiasts who had shopped there throughout the store’s three-decade duration but by a loyal clientele that reached across state lines, as well.
Today, new owner Geri Roberts Cope has opened another boutique at that location. She, along with her team members, Megan Davis Taylor, Shelley Prothro, Jane Meyer, Marilyn Rountree and Steve (Sox) Roberts, held the grand opening for The Place Off Line Aug. 6 and are now officially open for business.
When choosing a name for the shop, Shelley Prothro and her sister, Cyndy Hanna, were inspired by the memory of their dad (former Shreveport Mayor Bill Hanna) referring to their family’s car dealership as “the place.” In naming the boutique, “The Place” also seemed to fit. “Off Line” was added because local shoppers know that Line Avenue is a part of Shreveport’s million-dollar mile.
Cope wholeheartedly expresses her respect and appreciation of Goodman: “Knox made the 714 Azalea address a success for a boutique, and I just walked into it. The building was loved inside and out by her. I feel as though I’m standing on the shoulders of a giant,” she said. Cope poured even more love into the charming little house through the direction, dedication and tedious attention to detail of her friend and designer, Debbie Greenway.
It’s evident that, like Goodman, Cope has added her own personal accents and creative touches to produce an overall intimate and comfortable environment for patrons. When discussing her vision statement for the new boutique, Cope said, “We want to show our customer an experience like no other. We want to make her feel special. Most of all, we want to provide ‘The Place’ for friends to enjoy a cup of coffee or a cool glass of water with a hint of fresh mint or cucumber. We’d like to provide ‘The Place’ for sisters or girlfriends or husband and wife to enjoy an outing. Yes, there is a television set for LSU games in a sitting room for our men shoppers. We are in our infancy. Evolving. Never boring. We’ll search for the unique ... homegrown items, textiles, art.”
In regard to the clothing lines and labels she will carry, Cope again credits Goodman for her mentoring advice to “create my own niche” in merchandise selections. In this area, Cope entrusts her team and their years of cumulative retail experience.
Cope’s enthusiasm is palpable when she refers to the unity of her cherished team family, each of whom has assumed an important role in her life’s new adventure.
In addition to her daughter’s artful contributions to the project, Cope credits her manager, Prothro, who, from the beginning, had the vision necessary for the boutique concept to pull it together. Consultant Meyer is described by Cope as “bright, competent and organized.” Her world travel experiences have given her a refined style and a boundless supply of ideas that are helping Cope’s dream to take flight. Consultant Rountree is a “hilarious and charming person who really cares about people,” Cope said. “She was the accessories guru at The Fashion years ago and even made her own selections for the store at market, as she will do at ‘The Place.’” Rounding out the team with his colorful personality is certified public accountant Roberts, who knows everybody.
“I’ve always enjoyed shopping at a local, homegrown boutique rather than a large department store,” Cope said. “It’s all about the experience. I remember delightful Saturdays as a young girl when I was taken to Selber Brothers, fitted with something girlie and given a small bag of M&Ms on each shopping trip. Then, on to Toy Fair and lunch at some quaint shop. What girl doesn’t like to dress up and go out to lunch, dinner, a play, etc.? I grew up on a remote farm in North Louisiana with my mother and grandmother, but my grandmother was always in her makeup and pearls by 7 o’clock each morning, remote location or not.”
Cope’s new title of “boutique owner” certainly complements her resume by adding to the many other roles she has successfully taken on. To name a few: occupational therapist, orthodontic office worker, window treatment business, Pilates instructor and very dear to her heart -- caretaker for her lake property farm where her five Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats graze by the water’s edge and, along with several species of chickens and quail, are closely guarded by a huge Pyrenees/Anatolian Shepherd named Simeon. Donnie Earl, the Pomeranian, keeps things lively along with a keen eye out for visitors.
Encouragement, inspiration and support have never been in short supply from Cope’s family. Her late husband, Don, helped her to learn strength and endurance as they climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro together, safaried in Africa, walked the McKinnon Pass Trail in New Zealand ... and so much more.
“He was the bravest man I’ve ever known. I try to live up to his level of integrity and goodness,” she said.
– Jo Ann Garner
