ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — When Sonia and Chris O’Gwynn were looking for a new location for their businesses, they had no idea what would come their way.

“We knew we wanted to do something, we just didn’t think it would be on this grand a scale,” Sonia O’Gwynn said. “I firmly believe that this has been God inspired.”

Chris, a local native, opened Affinity Home Medical for about 15 to 16 years in Mobile, moving the business to Robertsdale about four years ago.

Sonia, a native of Louisiana, opened her own boutique shop, Purdy Thangz, in Spanish Fort in 2016.

“Chris’s business is mostly delivery, so he doesn’t need a lot of space,” Sonia O’Gwynn said, and the Robertsdale location just wasn’t a good fit for his business.

So, they began looking for another space for his business, and what they found ended up suiting them both.

They found out that Ivy and Linda Dumas and their family were selling their iconic business, Southern Furniture Mart, which began as a manufacturing plant in Loxley. They then sold furniture in their downtown Robertsdale location for more than 30 years before deciding to retire.

The space was big enough for both of their businesses, so Chris moved to a small office space at the location and they began renovating the space in what would become a second boutique location, selling a mix of women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry and home décor.

“We worked day and night,” Sonia O’Gwynn said. “It became a true labor of love.”

And there’s still space leftover, she said, with plans to lease space to local arts and crafts vendors. There are even plans to use part of the space as living space.

They have certainly been embraced by the community.

Affinity was named Robertsdale’s Business of the Year at the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet in January. Purdy Thangz held a ribbon cutting and open house with the Chamber on Feb. 20.

“We all know what this space is and what it means to the city of Robertsdale,” said Jonathan Kitchens, past Chamber Board chairman, “and we are thrilled with the effort Sonia and Chris have made to revive it.”

The Robertsdale location is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Call 251-947-3171 or check out the Purdy Thangz Facebook page or at purdythangzboutique.com.