The Main Attraction forging ahead with a new direction

TUPELO – The Main Attraction Emporium and Coffee Bar — the unique women's apparel, jewelry and gift boutique in the heart of downtown — has been open since 1988. But perhaps by this time next year, maybe even earlier, the shop customers know today will be completely transformed.

Owner Barbara Fleishhacker, who's been through three recessions and a pandemic, said the time has come for something different for the store.

Customers need not worry, however.

"They've been wondering if I'm going out of business, because people have noticed we're selling our racks, and we're having a big sale to liquidate," she said. "While I'm not going out of business, I am changing direction."

The evolution of Fleishhacker's shop coincides with big changes in her own life, including finishing her degree at the University of Mississippi.

"My mom was an antique dealer the bulk of my life," Fleishhacker said. "She has a lot of inventory from being an antique dealer for so long. It's a curated group of collections and they're quite beautiful. So she's been training me all my life for me doing what I'm about to do."

So The Main Attraction Emporium and Coffee Bar — which has been the purveyor of clothing, jewelry and gifts for 36 years — will keep its name, but be rid of all of its current inventory and become an antiques store.

"I think it's going to be a great way of falling into my retirement in a few years," she said. "I've reached the age where I could retire, but I've got a young man, Brody Holland, who has more for me for more than 20 years, so I need to keep us both going."

She admitted her boutique has had its struggles the past few years, and a new direction for them was needed.

"The honest truth is, even before COVID, the internet was attacking my business, and I noticed a huge direct hit," she said. "I'm very happy to have evolved into doing this."

Another advantage for Fleishhacker is that she owns her historic building at 214 West Main Street, which was once home to Riley's jewelry store.

Because the building's hers, Fleishhacker won't have to move to open her re-envisioned business.

"I'm not making enough now to pay the taxes, the insurance, the salary and everything that goes with that," she said. "So, I think this is a really great way to step into another way to do business."

Leaving the clothing, jewelry and accessories behind also means the end of her having to do something that was quite a chore: going to market.

"I'm so looking forward to not going to market ever again anywhere," Fleishhacker said. "I don't want to look for things I think people will like. I mean, I loved what I did for a long time. I made people happy from what people tell me ... I helped people feel good about their lives and themselves."

Fleishhacker could have easily retired and closed the shop. Or, she could have turned into a store that wasn't to her liking.

"I just didn't want to be the kind of store selling athletic wear or leisure wear," she said. "I've reinvented this store several times over the years, but this will be the biggest yet."

Although Fleishhacker doesn't have a strict timetable to follow, she said she hopes to welcome customers into the revitalized Main Attraction soon.

"The timeline is when everything is gone," she said. "Then I can get the antiques in. I don't want it hanging over my head. But it's going to take time, and I'd say it will be next June at least before we're selling antiques."