formal, and everything in between.” Womac says she always wanted to own a clothing boutique and found her niche through taking advice from her father, a successful entrepreneur. “One of the greatest lessons he taught me about business is having the ability to identify a void in the marketplace and then creatively plug it,” Womac exclaimed. Womac said she noticed a lack of options available for high-quality, fashion-forward, reasonably-priced clothing for women moving from their teen years into young adults, as well as a store “focused on dressing the entire customer and providing patrons with an excellent shopping experience.” Charli Boutique was the solution. “What also makes Charli Boutique stand out is the store’s stylists who can create a total look from head to toe including accessories and shoes. The best reward is to see our beautiful customers feeling great about how they look,” says Womac. Before you go much farther, you want to visit the Metairie Small Animal Hospital’s Silver Collar Pet Boutique. The veterinary practice is known for its quality care for dogs and cats that is open 24/7 (this location only) for emergencies. But for those times Fido and Felix don’t need regular or emergency care, the Silver Collar sells toys, collars, leashes, beds, and treats, grooming items, and apparel. Em’s Boutique “is known for carrying colorful and printed merchandise sourced from all over the world, unique statement jewelry, eclectic assortment of hats and designer denim to name a few,” says Emily Puckett about the store which opened in 2005, and she “hasn’t looked back!” Puckett said that one thing that sets Em’s apart “is our price point variation on all merchandise. We have a
Life Along Metairie Road Shopping, Dining and More
by Sue Strachan
Above: JADE. Opposite: EverydayKetoToGo. 14
WHILE RESIDENTS of Old Metairie know all about Metairie Road, those living farther afield may not and should take some time to drive down it — if not only to enjoy the large oaks that shade parts of the road, but to find basically everything anyone would need from shopping for home furnishings and getting insurance to dining and cocktails. Metairie Road, also known as Louisiana Highway 611-9, spans 3.5 miles and begins at the I-10 exit and ends at Airline Drive. That’s a lot of ground to cover, and while there are many fine establishments along the road, Inside New Orleans has selected its favorite 15 places along the route for those curious to discover or rediscover. LET’S GO! You’re going to need some caffeine to start your journey, so pop into Royal Blend Coffee and Tea to grab a cup of coffee or tea to go. You don’t have to go far for your next stop. Charli’s Boutique is right next door. Store owner Charli Womac says the store offers “options from casual to
I n side N ew Orl ean s
little something for everyone!” She also shared that the store will have some big news this summer and to watch for it on its social media — @shopems — for an announcement. The fun thing about Metairie Road shops is the mix of new-kids-on-the-block, such as Charli’s, which has been open for almost a year, with longtime favorites. Estella’s has been at its current location for almost 15 years and will be serving the Greater New Orleans area for 36 years this October. Kent Ozborn and his talented crew works hard “to keep our mix open to the hottest new items without forgetting our basics like good taper candles. In our store someone can come and buy a new sofa or a bar of soap.” Ozborn also adds, “we always try to have a great value in the merchandise that we buy so we can pass that along to our customer.” Another must-stop is JADE, which had its 10-year anniversary last November. It has been at its current location for eight years. “JADE offers service,” says Jennifer Rabalais. “From color consultations to whole-
