The start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is like Christmas for Jodie Robinson, owner of Dirt Road Divas, a clothing boutique in Kingwood.
Business significantly increases during those three weeks as the Southern-chic boutique supplies Lake Houston area ladies with the tops, boots and in-store made accessories—such as earrings and necklaces made of shell casings—to stand out at the rodeo’s concerts and events.
“My favorite part is picking out the clothing that I think would look really good on people and that people would enjoy wearing,” Robinson said. “I like to think about all of the ladies in the area and what they would look good in.”
Dirt Road Divas carries only women’s apparel—no menswear or kidswear—such as blouses, dresses, sweaters bottoms, shoes and jewelry. The store also offers furniture and distinctive gifts, such as license plates fashioned into beer holders and air fresheners shaped like Texas.
With country music playing in the background as well as hard-to-find Southern-themed gifts and homegoods, Robinson creates an environment she believes area residents enjoy.
One popular shirt Robinson made herself was stitched with the message “Real Housewives of Kingwood.”
Dirt Road Divas offers casual clothing options, such as jeans and shirts.[/caption]
“Why do people come here? It’s because we give good customer service and we greet them at the door,” she said. “We know our customers’ names most of the time, carry their clothes to the dressing room for them and give them a special day. It’s more of an experience. It’s relaxing.”
Robinson purchases her store’s stock in small quantities that cater to the desires of Lake Houston area residents. The result is a small boutique that is not overwhelming for customers, Robinson said.
“We try to not be like a [big-box store],” Robinson said. “We only get a few of each item, and so once that few of those are gone, they’re gone. A lot of our customers realize that and think ‘if I want this I need to get it because it won’t be here next week.’”
The Southern-themed boutique carries accessories in addition to home goods.[/caption]
Robinson, a transplant from Louisiana, purchased the business in 2010, when it was located near the intersection of Loop 494 and Kingwood Drive.
Moving to the retail and restaurant-anchored Kings Harbor Waterfront Village on West Lake Houston Parkway brought Dirt Road Divas closer to residents in Atascocita and popular restaurants that generate foot traffic.
“Moving here made sense because we’re in between Atascocita and Kingwood,” Robinson said. “And Kingwood [residents who live in the back end of Kingwood] don’t like to go to the front of Kingwood, which I didn’t understand at the time.”
Dirt Road Divas
1660 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood 281-360-3482 www.dirtroaddivasboutique.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
