After years of trying to find a space that will accommodate her growing business, Emily Summey is bringing her unique boutique, Stockyard Style, to a stone’s throw from the county line.
The Fredericksburg native announced Feb. 19 on Facebook that she was moving her company from Dauphin, near Harrisburg, to 139 S. Faith Road in Grantville, right next to the Lebanon County border with Dauphin County.
Summey started selling Western jewelry, after being taught how to craft it by her girlfriends, following her graduation more than 15 years ago from Texas A&M’s agricultural communications program.
In the beginning, it was beaded necklaces and earrings and lots of livestock pendants and accessories that she made by hand.
She set up booths at shows to spread the word.
Summey added more and more offerings, including other Western-themed accessories such as hats, shoes, boots and belts as well as men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. Meanwhile, she reinvested the money she made into her business.
“I outgrew my house,” she told LebTown.
Stockyard Style has had a store in Dauphin since the mid-2010s.
Doubling in size
“If you have been in our store at all in the last three or four years, you know that we have more than outgrown our space,” Summey said on Facebook. “We have been looking on and off for a new location and this 1800s-era barn on Route 22 is just what we need!”
Stockyard Style is doubling in size from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet and going from five parking spaces to being on 2.5 acres “where we can further expand our inventory, storage, and create a space that is so much more than just a retail shop. Imagine food trucks, tack swaps, demo and class space, and so much more.
“Dauphin has served our family and our business well … but it is time to move on to a location that will fuel our growth and increase our community impact.”
She said on Facebook that “upgrades we are excited for” in addition to the aforementioned storage are two bathrooms; paved staff parking; a bigger road sign on a busy highway; an office; greater handicap accessibility; and a huge parking lot to accommodate trailers and campers.
Oh, and lots of commercial neighbors, such as Brooks PowerSports Inc., Fabio’s authentic Italian cuisine, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Penn National Race Course, Newco Farm and Feed Grantville, and The Winner’s Circle Saloon.
Emily Summey is married to Troy Summey, an agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Northern York. Summey called her husband “her muscleman” for all the work he’s done for the big move from Dauphin to Grantville.
Their two kids, daughter Josie, 7, and son Gentry, 5, “were raised in my store pretty much,” Summey said.
She said Stockyard Style’s annual Dollar Days Sale will be combined with a Moving Sale and will run from March 9 to 23. Saturday, March 23, will be the store’s last day to be open in Dauphin. The premises will be closed March 24 to April 8 and will reopen April 9 in Grantville.
Summey said 2009 to 2015 established Stockyard Style’s customer base, and the store opened the following year.
“The pandemic really changed things for us,” Summey said, propelling the boutique’s online sales.
Stockyard Style does about a third of its sales online, a third at trade shows and a third at the store, she said. Summey would like to increase the store share of the revenue.
The business has now grown to five employees.
She also still appears at nine trade shows a year, six of which are held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, like the All-American Dairy Show.
“It’s really fun,” Summey said. “I love what I do every day.”
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