ALGOOD – An Upper Cumberland business owner’s love affair with shopping was the impetus for opening two new stores in the Cookeville area earlier this month.
April Smith Patterson, along with husband, Nick, and mother, Janie Smith, own Barky’s Front Porch and Bloomy’s Boutique on Highway 111 North near Algood; Barky’s and Bloomy’s opened Saturday. Patterson always enjoyed going to mom-and-pop shops. She said she prefers to patronize locally owned stores over the corporate department stores and big-box discount centers.
“I just enjoy the ambience, the people and the interesting finds,” she said. “There are a lot of great shops in this area, and I love giving them business. I designed our shops to help add to the selection already available and carry items and brands that customers may not find anywhere nearby.”
The two shops are housed in log buildings that are part of the Honest Abe Log Homes model home complex. Patterson’s father, the late Doug Smith, legendary in the UC for his entrepreneurship, founded Honest Abe and a fist full of other businesses like Mitchell Creek Marina, Swan Ridge Resort, GF Hardwoods, McFarland Outdoors and Barky Beaver.
April Patterson is carrying on her father’s entrepreneurial legacy, but the new stores also reflect the influence of her mother, Janie, who frequented family-owned businesses like their own.
“Ever since I was little, it was my dream to have my own store,” April said. “I remember going with mom to a local dress shop. Then I’d go home and pretend to write a ticket and sell the items and wrap them. It was my favorite thing.”
Patterson said she carefully chose what Bloomy’s and Barky’s would offer so that others could enjoy the shopping experience. Bloomy’s Boutique carries personal care products, clothing, accessories, furniture and home decor brands like Creative Coop, Yeti, Spartina, Umgee, Mud Pie, Regal, Wild & Wolf, Rinse Bath & Body, Skinny & Co Coconut Oil and more.
April’s husband, Nick, who is president of Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, said the products offered by Barky’s Front Porch keep with the philosophy Barky Beaver.
“We have what you need to make your lawn and garden beautiful and healthy,” Nick said. “Plus, our mulch and soil products are 100 percent natural and environmentally safe, and our selection of plants will always be from trusted local growers.”
Barky’s Front Porch features gardening supplies, storage buildings, playhouses, play sets, gazebos, barns, chicken coops, Barky Beaver mulch and potting soil and seasonal items.
“For fall, we have pumpkins, mums, pansies, squash, hay bales, corn stalks and fall decorations,” Nick said. “For Christmas, we’ll have fresh trees and wreaths as well as decorations and plenty of gift items. Spring will bring flowers, seeds and garden plants.”
Nick noted that Barky Beaver, which began manufacturing at Moss in Clay County more than 30 years ago, has operated an additional facility at Algood for many years, making the company a long-time member of the Cookeville business community. And that’s important to the Pattersons.
April said as a business owner she recognizes the economic value of investing in a community and also supporting other small businesses.
“When I shop at locally owned stores, I know I am helping a family like mine not only to survive but to enable others to have jobs and their families to feel secure,” she said.
Future plans for the new endeavor include moving Honest Abe’s original model home from Allons to the site on Highway 111 for use as another shop. For now, however, Nick and April are ready for customers.
“I want people to come here to find just what is needed to make their living environment more beautiful or to discover the perfect gift for a loved one,” April said, adding, “I want this to be a place where people come to shop with their families…a place that inspires little kids like I once was.”
The shops are open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.barkybeaver.com/shop, call (931) 400-0606 or email info@barkybeaver.com.
