by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Downtown Emporium of Jacksonville, the sundry store on the ground floor of Independent Square, has a new owner.
Yvonne Kirvy, former manager of the San Marco consignment shop The Snob, always dreamed of owning her own gift shop. She realized her dream July 1 when she became the sole proprietor of the store. Her passion for retail was kindled years ago while working at Belk’s department store.
“I fell in love with it,” said Kirvy. “It wasn’t like going to work. It was a lot of fun.”
Originally from North Carolina, Kirvy and her husband lived in Florida five years ago before moving to Virginia, where her husband is still employed.
“He’s still working in Virginia as the CIO of a company up there,” she said. “He’s hoping to retire this year, then he’ll be my helper.”
The small Northbank store is filled with greeting cards, balloons, gifts, toiletries, stamps, lottery tickets, cigarettes and standard convenience store items.
“Snacks and drinks carry the store,” said Kirvy. “It’s amazing how much water we sell. It gets really hectic in here.”
The store relies on surrounding businesses for its customers.
“We’re serving the employees of the building and surrounding buildings,” she said. “It’s a really nice clientele. They’re almost exclusively downtown professionals. I don’t think we get people off the street or passing through.”
She would like to expand her inventory, but pricey gifts don’t fare well with her customers. One thing she won’t add to her inventory, regardless of demand, is adult beverages.
“I have had people ask for alcohol but I don’t want to go in that direction because this is an office building,” she said.
A first-time business owner, Kirvy is slowly learning her way. The most daunting challenge has been juggling the purchasing, bookkeeping and all the other required tasks.
“This consumes all my time,” she said. “I had a full life before but now that’s on hold. It’s supposedly slow in the summer so it will be a challenge to get enough merchandise in here to meet the holiday needs. I know it will get better as I get my workforce together.”
Her staff consists of her manager and family friend, Tom Thornton, plus two part-time employees.
For the present, she has retained the same vendors as the previous owner. The previous owner sold the shop because of an illness in the family. Kirvy chose not to incorporate, dropping the Inc. from the Downtown Emporium of Jacksonville, Inc. when she took over. She is in the process of reorganizing.
“We use the same vendors,” she said. “It may change over time but I still cater to employees because they have a lot of office parties, showers and birthdays.”
Adding a few tables and chairs in the cramped quarters is the only modification she has instituted.
“We’re working on a seated area so people can read the paper on their break and relax,” she explained. “We don’t have any more room but we may pull some things or combine space.”
Kirvy spent two years seeking the right spot. Retail shops that aren’t expected to operate nights, weekends or holidays are a rarity. Immediately, a mall location was crossed off her list.
“I love cards and meeting people,” she smiled. “It’s exciting to pick out merchandise for the store. At this point in my life, it’s exciting; it’s a challenge. I’m getting to meet different people and meet the needs that they have.”