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September 10, 2015
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September 10, 2015
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After a lifetime on the job, esteemed local businesswoman Pat Chauvin is ready to retire.

Chauvin confirmed to The Times this week that Pat’s of Chauvin, her clothing and department store of 52 years, is heading into its final weeks in operation.

Chauvin said the store will start a going out of business sale on October 1, which will also double as a celebration of the store’s longevity and time in operation.


The business owner said Pat’s is in good shape financially and could have easily continued on into the future if the family had chose to do so.

But after more than a half-century dedicating herself to the business, Chauvin said she’s ready to ease up and settle into retirement.

“We’ve been in business 52 years, so obviously it’s an emotional decision,” Chauvin said. “I love my business. I love what I do. But it’s time. I can tell you that it’s time. It’s not because the business is not good, because the business is very good. We just want to do other things. I want to spend more time with my family, and I want to get more involved in the community.”


For Chauvin, closing up shop will be tough to do, because this store is where she’s spent almost her entire adult life.

Chauvin created the business from the ground-up – literally. In the winter of 1963, she decided on a whim to start a dress shop. With nothing more than $250 cash and a dream of something more, Chauvin and her husband Philip headed to New Orleans and purchased $600 worth of dresses to get the company started.

The company initially operated out of the couple’s home.


“We put $250 down,” Chauvin says with a laugh looking back. “But we looked honest, so they gave us the rest on credit.”

The Chauvin’s family business thrived from the beginning with hundreds of customers piling into the Chauvin’s home to seek the fashion and designs that the family offered.

That traffic and success allowed the business to grow to where having a physical storefront location was necessary. Chauvin said the business has relocated a few times in its history, but has been at its current location at 5086 La. Highway 56 in Chauvin for several years.


The store’s offerings have also evolved to keep up with the times. Pat’s houses social occasion dresses, school uniforms, children’s clothing and many other types of attire to fit both men and women of all ages.

“We never imagined this when we first got started,” Chauvin said of the store’s history. “We’ve blossomed into a place

where customers can come and find almost anything they may need for any occasion. We’re so very proud of that.”


But after tens of thousands of hours on the clock, Chauvin said she’s ready to settle into retirement – even if it’s going to be a pretty busy one.

Chauvin said once the store closes up shop, she plans to remain active.

“I will not be a couch potato,” Chauvin said with a laugh. “I can promise you that’s not going to happen.”


She said she wants to write a book detailing her story and the things she’s learned and experienced being a business owner. Chauvin said she also wants to get into schools and do things to help children.

“Retired life is going to be different – very different,” Chauvin said. “But I’ll still be around, and I’m going to keep myself busy. I’ll be very involved with the community. I do a lot of work with the schools already, and I want to definitely continue to do that. I think I can help our schools, our children and our community in many ways, and I want to do the best that I can to make that happen.”

But front and center in the decision is family. Chauvin said she wants to spend more time with the people that she cares about most – something that she hasn’t always been able to do while babysitting and maintaining a store that’s open for 300-plus days a year.


“I still love what I do,” Chauvin said. “So that makes it hard. But the timing is right, and it’s time that we do this so that we can spend time with our families. We’ve had a great time, and we’re so thankful to everyone who has supported us along the way. If it wouldn’t be for the great people in this community, we’d have not been able to stay around for as long as we have.”

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