On June 2, 1986, Garrett Weddle's life changed dramatically whenhe took over Copenhaver's men's shop and reinvented it as Garrett's Apparel for Men in downtown Radford.
He had been an engineer for AT&T in Fairlawn.
"Part of my responsibility was traveling to Mexico to look foroffshore manufacturing for that plant, so I knew the handwritingwas on the wall," Weddle said.
"We weren't about to leave the area so I just started thinking Ineeded to find a new career path."
At the time, his wife, Meg, was working for Bonomos in Radford,which happened to reside two doors down from Copenhaver's.
Copenhaver's had been open since 1919 and was in its thirdgeneration of family ownership when Weddle got the impression thatthe owner wanted out.
"So I just walked in one day and said, 'Would you be interestedin selling me this business,' and he said, 'As a matter of fact, Iwould," Weddle remembers.
However, he had no experience in running a business or sellingmen's clothing.
"I remember that first day," said Meg Weddle, "he asked if Icould work and I took my day off from Bonomos and went two doorsdown to work."
They changed the name to Garrett's Apparel for Men and quicklyput their mark on the business by upgrading the clothing lines andemphasizing personal service.
In the first year they said sales doubled, and in the case ofsome items, tripled.
The two worked on the same block until 1988, when Meg leftBonomos and joined Garrett's officially.
Then in 1992, seeing an unfilled niche in women's clothing inRadford, she opened Meg's Specialty Wear.
By 1996, Meg was running both shops and Garrett was working inreal estate, a second career change that allowed him to eventuallypurchase two side-by-side buildings on Main Street where the shopsnow reside.
Today, both Garrett's Menswear Depot (as it is now called) andMeg's Specialty Womenswear offer high-quality designer clothing,shoes and accessories.
Meg considers her current role to be something of a cross betweena fashion consultant and a personal assistant.
"I always loved fashion and I always loved art, and to me, thisis my art," she said. "It's taking clothing and putting them on thehuman canvas."
After 25 years, Garrett Weddle is quick to credit his wife withmost of the success.
Though there is one decision he said he made early on that hashad an effect well beyond what the couple could have imagined in1986.
This year happens to be Frank Beamer's 25th year as footballcoach at Virginia Tech, and Garrett sought him out as a sponsor.
It certainly helps to have arguably the best-known name inWestern Virginia as a voice for your business.
"On the day he started, I called him and got in to speak to himduring his first month on campus," said Garrett Weddle.
Becky Haupt is another of one of their regular customers and saidshe shops there because of the quality clothing and the personalservice.
Haupt is also the executive director of Main Street Radford, anonprofit organization that works to ensure the vitality of theMain Street business community. She appreciates the stores asimportant parts of the local economy.
"They've become an anchor business downtown," said Haupt."They've gone through several economic downturns and weathered thatand come out a stronger business."
Meg Weddle said she and her husband are conscious of their rolesas local merchant anchors and encourage people to shop locally.
She also said she doesn't believe that store chains and internetsales outlets can provide the kind of service the Weddles strive toprovide. Both their shops provide alterations, deliveries,personalized attention and advice.
Donia Eley of Pulaski said she appreciates the in-housealteration service, which is done by 14-year employee Dani Hood.
"Meg can look at a garment on a client and in minutes have itreshaped, pinned, shortened and on the way to Dani's sewingmachine," said Eley.
She also said Meg Weddle will come to your home and evaluate yourcurrent wardrobe for you.
"She doesn't toss out everything," Eley noted. "She can look atan older garment and make suggestions for reshaping sleeves orlength or turn a jacket into a vest with her skill at making thingswork."
Meg Weddle added that looking good on the outside helps peoplefeel better on the inside, giving the more confidence andsatisfaction.
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