SHOP LOCAL | Apricot Lane merges contemporary fashion with ‘Mayberry’ shopping experience

TEXARKANA, Texas — Like many mothers, Melissa Martin searches for nice clothing for her daughter.

About two years ago, as COVID-19 loosened its grip on the world, Martin’s search took her to Dallas. During the pandemic lockdown, her daughter, Raney, grew about 6 inches and needed to freshen her wardrobe.

The mother and daughter moved from one store to another, but nothing quite met Raney’s tastes or Martin’s sensibilities.

“You’re not wearing that,” Martin recalled saying about some of the outfits her teen daughter tried.

The shopping trip was a moment of realization for Martin.

“Where can I shop for my daughter?” she began to ask herself.

This led her to the internet, which she used to investigate retailers with multi-generational appeal who promote a positive mother-daughter shopping experience.

“I still believe in the whole ‘Mayberry’ concept,” said Martin, an homage to “The Andy Griffith Show” and the concept of family.

Martin found what she was looking for in Apricot Lane Boutique, a clothing store started in 2007 by business partners Ken Petersen, Tom Brady and Scott Jacobs.

In 2022, Martin became an Apricot Lane franchisee and opened her store at 4220 Gibson Lane, down the sidewalk from Lost Pizza Co.

Besides its fashion, Apricot Lane’s culture of giving was another attraction for Martin.

Each year, the more than 130 Apricot Lane stores nationwide make a push to sell Noble Venture accessories. The bracelets are handmade by survivors of human trafficking and artisans in at-risk communities around the world. Proceeds from bracelet sales support trafficking survivors, Martin said.

Still, Apricot Lane is a fashion store, so Martin keeps an eye on trends in contemporary chic. Raney, a senior at Texas High School, assists her mother as a co-buyer, helping to bring in such brands as Free People, Daze, Kut from the Kloth, Elan and Meet Me in Santorini.

Designs by Z Supply are “a crowd favorite,” according to Martin.

Apricot Lane mission to dress anyone from age 12 to 100, Martin said.

“You can be over 50, but you have to be a little sassy,” she said with some sass of her own.

To advance her mission, Martin has expanded her staff to include Cindy Pedron, Ally Moore and Raney’s classmate Lauren Steele. Martin’s mother, Ann Haarmeyer, is the seamstress.

Fonda Clary acts as store manager, and she thinks she knows why.

“I’m bossy and make them buy,” she said about customers.

Martin and staff pride themselves on being accessible for customers and helping them to look and feel their best. She said it’s not uncommon for customers to pop in and ask for wardrobe help right before an important event.

“My order hasn’t come in and I need something tonight,” Clary recalled about interactions with a few customers.

There even have been times when Haarmeyer (aka Grannie) as made a last-minute alternation to a garment that a customer immediately put on in the store and wore to a function.

Martin would not have it any other way.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Apricot Lane provides one-on-one fitting assistance for girls entering pageants and expectant mothers looking for something “bump friendly.”

And then there are the customers with heartbreaking stories, such as the woman looking for an outfit after having a double mastectomy or a grieving customer searching for an outfit to wear to a funeral.

“You never know who’s coming in the door,” Martin said.

One of her most memorable experiences was a customer referred to her by Katina Levingston, founder of the local Tough Kookie Foundation.

The customer was “a cute, little lady” who had never worn jeans, Martin said. When she came to Apricot Lane, she initially wanted a dress. With a bit of coaxing from the staff, she settled on jeans — and was delighted she did, according to Martin. She even has sent photos to Martin of her wearing the jeans.

After two years in business, Martin said online retail is one of the biggest challengers to her brick-and-mortar store. However, thanks to loyal customers, Apricot Lane presses on.

Martin said it is not uncommon for a customer who is shopping in another city to call her about a particular item and ask, “‘Do you have this? I’ll buy it from you instead.’”

Such loyalty inspires Martin to support others by making space at Apricot Lane for local entrepreneurs, such as the Made for Miles line of scent products by Taylor Clements. It’s a matter of “women uplifting women,” Martin said.

Apricot Lane Boutique is open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It closed on Sunday, except for customers with appointments.