By Ngoc Vo

When Leann Boudin came back to Troy last December, she did not expect to open a business in the hometown where she was born and raised.

“It was an (family) emergency when I came back to Troy, and I couldn’t find anywhere locally to by clothes and shoes,” Boudin said, explaining how that trip led to her inspiration for opening a new retail shop in Troy. “There’s definitely a demand. I love Troy and I felt like coming back to open a store.”

She opened Shoe Nami, located on Highway 87, in August.

Boudin said she and her husband developed the store name, which is inspired by the word “tsunami.” “It’s like a wave of shoes,” Boudin said.

Courtnee Driggers, store manager, said Shoe Nami “brings something different Troy doesn’t have before,” Driggers said.

“We try to carry a variety of things to meet everyone’s needs. We have shoes styles for customers from little girls to elderly ladies. There are boots, flip-flops, flats, heels and accessories.”

And, Driggers said, being involved in the community and at Troy University helps her and the sales associates know what fashions local shoppers are seeking.

“My plan is to keep it fun, keep it trendy,” Boudin said. “We’ll always have good shoes available with great pricing.”

Dianne LeVeque, a Shoe Nami customer, said she welcomes the store and enjoys its atmosphere. “It felt so inviting,” LeVeque said.

Driggers said that atmosphere is intentional. The shop is designed with a heavy emphasis on local décor. Furniture comes from the Confetti Crate and Rustic Roots, and the chalkboard designs are by Kristy Drinkwater, a local graphic artist.

“I think Shoe Nami, as a small, private business, can tailor to the needs of the community better because we are more involved,” she said. “We want to reach out, to build our business with a sense of community.”

Shoe Nami is located at 220 Elba Highway, suite B. It opens on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturdays

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.