Zooty’s wants to help you look your best
By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by BECKY STINEHOUR
When you feel your worst, look your best! That was Amy Thomas’ grandmother’s mantra to her and her sister, Ann Aldrich Dunn. That sentence fueled a passion in Thomas for looking good anytime, anywhere and sparked the launch of a business to help women do exactly that.
“Our mother and grandmother were huge influences in our lives as they both were businesswomen but simply adored great clothes and shoes. They taught us the importance of clothes construction,” Thomas says. “The name ‘Zooty’s’ comes from my mother. She would always ask what zooty-looking outfit were you going to wear or ‘make sure you have some zooty-looking shoes to wear!’ The name is a tribute to her.”
However, Thomas’ business career did not begin in the clothing industry. She and Ann were raised in their family’s real estate business. They worked in their grandparents’ real estate office in Harker Heights and then worked in their parents’ real estate office in downtown Temple. Their mother would save all the errands to be done for after they got out of school, which meant delivering papers to all the title companies, financial institutions, and the Bell County Courthouse.
Thomas says her family factors into every decision made. “My daughters, husband, and sister have been my biggest cheerleaders and coaches.
“I don’t think people can fathom how dire things were for small businesses this spring. None of us knew what was in store for small-business owners. Originally, we were told we would be shut down for two weeks. At the beginning of the third week, we did not even know if would be able to ever re-open. We were shut down a total of seven weeks. There were times I would just come to my shop, sit down on the floor in a closed shop, and just cry. I had all this merchandise ordered and I had no way to get customers,” Thomas says.
“When we were able to reopen curb side and we were so touched by the outpouring of support. Several weeks later we were able to reopen with limited numbers inside our business. I know my family’s encouragement to see light at the end of the tunnel helped me get through the dark time.”
Thomas says her family gave her a strong work ethic and stressed a good deal is a fair deal for all parties. They started the shopping center Pecan Plaza in 1979 because her parents believed in small businesses and always tried their best to shop local and to shop small.
“Temple had a saying back in the early 1970s: Shop Temple, you will be glad you did! I think this goes without saying. Please keep your money within your community. The money generated by the local sales tax revenue can be fabulous,” Thomas adds, smiling.
New business is also coming to Pecan Plaza, according to Thomas and, in her continuing the family tradition of supporting small business, she shares about a new neighbor of Zooty’s.
“Elaine Montalbo is opening Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop and Café and bringing many years of experience of being in the restaurant businesses she owned in West Texas. We are so happy she chose Pecan Plaza and are so excited with her menu. She will provide homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches each day. Elaine will have special desserts made daily as well as her famous coffee bar made from a piano,” Thomas says with enthusiasm.
For more information about Zooty’s of Temple, visit zootystemple.com or call 254-770-0904. Find Suzy Q’s Coffee Shop and Café on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/category/Restaurant/Suzy-Qs-112151107306575/.
