News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
One of Cookeville’s local shops, 31TwentyFive Boutique, has been named one of, “The South’s Best” by Southern Living Magazine.
Co-Owners and Sisters Ali Auld and Hillary Froning started the business in 2016. Auld said her family grew up reading the lifestyle magazine, so receiving the recognition has been a surreal experience.
“We just cried and just shook,” Auld said. “Just to see our name, because Southern Living, I grew up with everybody I know reading Southern Living. So, even just to see our name in print in the magazine is just unbelievable. I am still not over it.”
Auld said she first heard the news of being included in the magazine from a customer. Then, Auld and her sister searched across town to find a copy for themselves.
“I went to Books-A-Million, Wal-Mart,” Auld said. “I went everywhere to find this magazine, and I could not find it because it was the April edition. (…) When I couldn’t find it, of course, I called Hillary and could not believe, and then, she ended up finding one at the Dollar General.”
Auld said she sees the distinction as a positive for business, but also, for Cookeville as a whole. Auld said people from all over the Southeast have reached out and added 31TwentyFive Boutique to their list of Tennessee destinations.
“People from Kentucky and out of state are like we shop with you guys, and we love that boutique. It is our favorite shop,” Auld said. “Not just for Cookeville, but for people even out of state that read the magazine that are like yeah we shop there and oh yeah y’all deserve it. And then, there is people that say they can’t wait to visit.”
The shop at 406 East Broad Street has a wide range of women’s clothing and jewelry. Most residents are familiar with the location because of the Ronald Reagan mural on the outside wall.
The shop’s name is inspired from Proverbs 31:25 which says, “She is clothed in strength and dignity; and she laughs without fear of the future.”
