Friday, June 11, 2010
Roanoke County boutique E.I. Randle going out of business
E.I. Randle, under new ownership since 2008, plans to close its doors by early July.
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The Roanoke Valley soon will lose a classic name in women's fashion.
E.I. Randle, a Southwest Roanoke County boutique, will close its doors by early July, more than a year after the previous owners of the Starkey Road retailer sold the longtime business.
Winter Hodges bought the E.I. Randle name in 2008 from Diana and Henry Vaughan, Lynchburg-area residents who also operate Jasmine, a women's boutique there.
The Vaughans opened E.I. Randle in Roanoke County in 1977, with a business partner. But seeking a slower pace, they sold the store to Hodges, who also owns 310 Rosemont, a chain of urban, trendy apparel stores, including one in downtown Roanoke.
Hodges brought a contemporary flair to E.I. Randle, which had catered to women of all ages looking for classic yet fashionable styles, from cashmere sweaters to velvet jackets.
He redecorated the store with dark brown carpet with ivory designs, white and brown plush sofas and a coffee bar. The store's initials changed to "ei" in marketing materials.
Still, Hodges' attempt to branch out into a different retail venture was not as successful as he had hoped.
He said Thursday that he could not give the boutique the attention that it needed.
Closing the store allows him to focus on 310 Rosemont. In addition to Roanoke, there are 310 Rosemont stores in Blacksburg and Texas. Hodges plans to open new stores in Greenville, S.C., and Houston.
This week merchandise at E.I. Randle is discounted 40 percent for its going-out-of-business sale.
Longtime E.I. Randle shopper Hoye Duckworth stopped there Thursday to browse the sale racks, explaining that she enjoys its ambiance.
"This is one of those places that you come for nice things," said Duckworth, 58, an anesthesiologist who lives in Roanoke County.
It's also the kind of place where Duckworth's husband comes each year to choose her Christmas gifts and where he gets help finding the perfect items from the store associates who know her well.
