Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Photography Provided
If youre in search of that one-of-a-kind gift for a baby shower, birthday party or other celebratory event, Kathys Shoppe has you covered. Carrying a wide variety of unique products, including womens clothing, jewelry, purses, accessories, baby and toddler clothes, home goods, and garden and outdoor items, the store truly has something for everyone.
And its not just a spotty assortment. In candles alone, they carry more than 80 different scents.
We are a general boutique that doesnt focus on one particular area, says Tommy Haynes, who has co-owned Kathys Shoppe for the past 13 years with his mother Kathy.
Through the years their customer base has grown, causing them to expand their space several times.
We started off in a building that was literally 10x10, and through determination and perseverance we have grown to a 3,000-square-foot store, Haynes says.
There is merchandise in every nook and cranny. People will come in and look around, then return a few days later and comment on all of the stuff they missed the first time around.
With a purple and lime green storefront located in a corridor of eclectic shops and restaurants, Kathys Shoppe is the place to go for fun, funky items like cool wine glasses, little beer signs, and socks with phrases like, I love Jesus, but I drink a little.
Located in the Crescent Hill neighborhood area just four miles east of downtown Louisville, Haynes says the business gets a lot of walking traffic, as folks meander through the store while out grabbing a bite to eat or walking their dog. Speaking of which, the shop is dog-friendly.
We have a customer who comes in at least once a week and always brings her Pomeranian with her, Haynes says.
They even have a special section devoted to dog and cat lovers.
We sell organic, all-natural dog treats, as well as cat and dog coffee mugs, ornaments, and pillows with fun phrases like, Home is where the dog fur is, Haynes says.
The shop also carries pieces from more than a dozen local and regional artists. For instance, one artist makes whimsical pendulum clocks. Another makes charcuterie boards and cigarbox purses. Another fashions art out of pieces of glass, pebbles and stones. Glass blowers, painters, potters and more are represented. Each piece is one of a kind.
In addition, they sell exclusive items specific to the city and state – t-shirts, tea towels, as well as postcards that involve horses, bourbon and mint juleps, and the Louisville waterfront skyline. Plus, they carry items that are Derby-specific such as hats, dresses, serving platters and dip bowls, reusable cloth cocktail napkins, and wine bags that make ideal gifts for the host of a Derby party.
Im proud of how we have continued to grow, evolve and develop as a business, and that weve developed relationships with new people in the community, says Haynes, who is a part of several local business associations. We get a lot of word-of-mouth advertising. Even after 13 years in the business, a large percentage of our customers are new.”
Kathy’s Shoppe is located at 107 South Ewing Avenue in Louisville, KY. For more information, give them a call at 502-245-8222 or visit them onine at kathysshoppe.com.
