About Town by Joyce Coulson

​Over the past couple of weeks, Downtown La Grande has been graced with two new shops, each serving a unique clientele.  I visited both late last week, just in time for Bout Time Boutique’s grand opening and Savage Serpents had opened a few weeks earlier.  My little jaunt also coincided with the Union County Chamber of Commerce’s First Thursday event, “Sip, Shop, Repeat Local”, a wander around Downtown La Grande sipping wine on a beautiful summer’s eve and occasionally shopping experience.  After first visiting Bout Time Boutique, I made my way to Savage Serpents.​
 
Bout Time Boutique’s opening has been eagerly anticipated around the region, as there has not been many women’s clothing stores in Downtown LG for many years.  Reyna and Craig Moschkau moved back to La Grande in 2020 and, through community involvement and just talking with people around town, found a desire for more retail and decided to fill the need for an affordable and high quality women’s clothing store. The Moschkaus wanted to give their customers a retail space where they could explore and try on things at their leisure.  
 
Bout Time Boutique has lived up to everyone’s expectations! The selection of clothing and accessories is thoughtfully curated with all ages and sizes in mind and presented in an elegant and accessible manner.  The style is casual Western chic with a bit of Boho to mix things up.  The actual store is tastefully decorated and just a delight to be in.   Well done!

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My next stop, Savage Serpents, was an absolute joy.  I have had two snakes in my life (Snake and Packwood) and have been looking forward to this business being a part of Downtown.  After working with reptiles and other neat creatures since childhood and being employed at various pet stores, (the latest being Petsense, where her reptile expertise figured prominently), Allyson Smith decided to take the plunge and open her own shop.
 
And what a shop it is!  There are pythons and geckos and skinks (oh my), along with bearded lizards, corn snakes, boas, scorpions, amphibians, invertebrates, and other exotic creatures too numerous to name.  There are also supplies and accessories to keep them all alive and happy.  Allyson loves to share her knowledge and so, if you are at all reptile curious, she would be happy to show you around. You might even go home with a scale-baby of your very own!
 
Welcome to Downtown!