AMERICUS —
The Tot Shop, a store which has been downtown Americus since 1907, was sold in 1936, and has since been a three-generation owned store, has changed its location, name and style.
The Tot Shop was sold in 1936, when the streets of downtown Americus still had the artisan wells in the middle of the street. Catherine Rylander, 29-year-owner of the Tot Shop, an upscale, fine quality, traditional kids clothing, sold her shop to Lucille Smith and Flora Undercofler in 1959.
The two women were business partners for several years before Undercofler relocated to Atlanta. Smith then purchased Undercofler’s share of the store, operating the store religiously, until she retired.
After Smith’s retirement, her daughter Su Su Eskedor started running the business in 1981.
“Su Su is very tickled about the new store; I’m going to see it today,” Smith said Tuesday with excitement.
After 30 years of owning the Tot Shop, Eskedor and her daughter Angela Calhoun have made a joint effort to relocate with a new style and new name.
“We thought we needed a change. We have changed our style as well as our name. Our name is ZebraLilly,” said Eskedor explained.
“Our address is 221 W. Lamar St., just next door to our previous location. We are in the building of the previous Frame Emporium,” she said with a smile.
Eskedor said when she moved back from Savannah in 1981, where she owned a Tot Shop for several years, came back to Americus to operate the Tot Shop in an effort to support her two children. Over the years the business has grown and with growth comes change.
“Over the years we made some changes; in 1991, we expanded to home accessories for ladies. We needed a shop for ladies and the children to love,” said Eskedor, as she explained times are changing and she and her daughter felt the store needed the change.
“We also needed an area for the bigger children to come without feeling they are in a toddler shop,” said Eskedor.
Calhoun said the store still carries traditional clothing, but has updated to traditional with a twist.
“We still have the classic smocked clothing, but we also have the more trendy, but tasteful clothing,” she said excitedly as she made her way through the fresh, brightly painted store with tile laid out in black and white checkerboard.
“Yes, we have changed the decor to a happy lime green with splashes of zebra prints to match the name,” said Calhoun, making her way to the dressing area, which is located in the far left, decorated with zebra print curtains and hand painted flowers of pink, purple and blue.
“We also expanded this area for the ‘Tween’ area,” pointing toward the very rear right end of the store which consists of middle childhood and adolescent clothing.
ZebraLilly also carries classic boys and girls clothes ranging from newborn to size 16 for girls and newborn to size 4 toddler for boys.
Along with kids fashion, ZebraLilly carries shoes and accessories such as totes, jewelry, watches and handbags. Among home accessories are votive candles, pewter, candleholders and a variety of baskets.
Hours are from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. It is closed on Mondays during the summer months.
Local News
Related Photos
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Su Su Eskedor and daughter Angela Calhoun pose inside their newly updated clothing store. The former Tot Shop is now called ZebraLilly. It’s located right next door. Lisa Law
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ZebraLilly, formerly ‘The Tot Shop,’ is all dressed up in zebra print, and is open 221 W. Lamar St., downtown. Lisa Law
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