Sissy’s Log Cabin, the jewelry store chain in Arkansas and Tennessee, has relocated in Memphis to an ultramodern setting that still gives a nod to the brand’s heritage but shows a new direction for the beloved “Sissy’s experience.”
“So often we keep doing the same old thing because that’s what the generation before us did. But the only constant is our lives is change,” says Bill Jones, CEO of Sissy’s Log Cabin. “What we did was maintain the concept and upgraded it.”
For the new Memphis store, located at 4542 Poplar Ave., Sissy’s refined its interior design, created immersive brand experiences, and added an outdoor seating area and a dog park to make coming to Sissy’s to buy fine jewelry fun and convenient, says Jones.
Jones’ mother, Sissy, founded the jewelry chain in a Pine Bluff, Ark., log cabin that she rented in 1970 to use as an antiques store. “I had to get her blessing,” Bill Jones says about planning the new store. “I called and said, ‘Mom, we’re going to change our look but not our feeling. We’ll still have our name and our experience. But we can do that with a better-looking, more practical building.’
“I called her Mom at that point, instead of Sissy like I do at work, because that’s what I call her when I want something.”
Sissy’s response? “She said, ‘It’s about time,’” her son recalls.
The family-owned and -operated chain has five locations in Arkansas (Pine Bluff, Little Rock Heights, Little Rock Promenade, Jonesboro, and Conway) in addition to Memphis, where it’s had a store for 10 years.
The goal for this new location was to give the community a beautiful shopping space and classic Sissy’s warmth, Bill Jones says. Architect Jesse Balaity designed the 9,000-square-foot store, which is in the Laurelwood Shopping Center (as was Sissy’s previous Memphis shop).
In the new store, Sissy’s honors its log-cabin past with subtle touches such as log-like detailing in the trim work of the wood display cases. The shop’s interior is bright, thanks to large windows, and features plush seating. For those who want to learn more about the family history, a large montage shows the company’s progression from the original log cabin to this location, Bill Jones says.
Special areas within the Memphis store are dedicated to luxury brands Cartier and Rolex. Additionally, there is a bridal boutique where couples can sit down and consult with a Sissy’s jeweler or salesperson.
One thing had remained: The store still displays its famous “In Case of Jewelry Emergency” plaque, which has the cell phone numbers for Bill and his wife, Sherrie. who serves on the company’s executive team as secretary. Sherrie says there have been times when a customer called them on a Sunday because they remembered at the last minute that they needed to buy an anniversary present—and the Joneses helped the client find that perfect jewelry piece.
Sissy’s Memphis store has an outdoor patio, where custom-design meetings can be held, and a small, fenced-in dog park, so pets can enjoy hanging out at Sissy’s as much as their humans do.
“This state-of-the-art store sets the standard for jewelry shopping in Memphis and all our future locations,” Jones says. “It’s a great direction as we move forward.”
Sherrie Jones adds, “We are so proud of the end result, but we’re also proud to work there as a team. We work so hard together.”
Top: The staff of Sissy’s Log Cabin celebrates the chain’s new Memphis location. (Photos courtesy of Sissy’s Log Cabin)
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