In the North Commerce development, The Corbel, Barlow and Deyo are helping to fuel St. Francisville’s growing retail sector
St. Francisville’s enduring reputation as a tourist destination continues to grow, thanks in part to an expanding retail sector that now offers everything from books and gifts to furniture and fashion. In North Commerce, a new, $10 million development spearheaded by Susan and Don Charlet and family, stylish retail additions are drawing shoppers in search of on-trend looks for the home and wardrobe.
North Commerce’s anchor store is The Corbel, an old-meets-new furniture concept with a national following. The 10,000-square-foot showroom opened last fall across from Parker Park and features new, as well as antique, furnishings, fine architectural salvage, upmarket gifts and décor and wedding registries. The Charlets founded The Corbel more than 20 years ago on Highway 61 as an extension of their work as builders and restoration experts. A few years ago, they decided to relocate the retail showroom to the heart of St. Francisville and began thinking about other businesses that could accompany it.
“There’s no better place for The Corbel than right here,” said Don, who saw the opportunity to transform a three-acre parcel at North Commerce and Ferdinand into the development that would be anchored by The Corbel. The Charlet family has opened other exciting ventures on the site as well, including the clothing boutiques Barlow Fashion and Deyo Supply Company, the new Hotel Toussaint and the event center, The Mallory.
“It was in our blood to take old things and fix them up and use them again,” said Don about the building, which once saw duty as a general store. “The town loves The Corbel being here. And we love it. It just fits.”
For The Corbel’s new headquarters, the Charlets updated a badly dilapidated building that had served many purposes during its decades-long history. Months of work brought the space back to life, and today, it hums with energy as shoppers browse its many quadrants, each brimming with design inspiration. Every corner of the resurrected building is outfitted with aspirational items, from inviting sofas to high-end barware, to reclaimed architectural elements that provide just the right touch.
“It was in our blood to take old things and fix them up and use them again,” said Don about the building, which once saw duty as a general store. “The town loves The Corbel being here. And we love it. It just fits.”
Next door to The Corbel, another building received a Charlet-style makeover. Today it houses their clothing boutiques, Barlow and Deyo, which opened in late 2022, and an existing business, Trends Hair Salon.
Barlow sprang from a mobile women’s clothing boutique started by Susan, which the couple had hoped to find a permanent location for. Deyo, specializing in men’s clothing, was the brainchild of the Charlets’ son, Cage, who noticed a dearth of men’s fashion in St. Francisville and decided to do something about it.
To finance the projects, Bank of St. Francisville partnered with SBA to utilize the 7a Loan Program, which is a loan guaranty program that is available to support economic development and job creation. While the program represents a large time commitment on the part of BSF, President and CEO Carter Leak IV said it is aligned with the community’s vision and with BSF’s mission of being “the fuel of prosperity for the communities we serve”.
“We believed this project was something truly transformative for St. Francisville,” Carter said. “And we had a lot of confidence in the Charlets’ work ethic, character, and creativity.”
The Corbel also features a forthcoming outdoor garden center to the rear of the building where patrons will find elegant outdoor furnishings and décor for patios, gardens and other outdoor spaces. It’s all part of a retail experience that reveals that The Corbel isn’t just a store, it’s a lifestyle brand, too.
“People can spend all day here,” Cage said. “You can dine, go the salon, shop, attend an event and stay in the hotel. There’s just so much to enjoy right here.”
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