When Jennifer Officer opened Keaton Place in March 2017, it wasn’t part of a long-term plan. 

It began, in her words, as “a total accident.” After more than twenty years in the same career, she felt ready for a change. When the opportunity arose to purchase a small business on the Livingston Square, it was her husband, Mike, the steady and conservative banker, who encouraged her to take the leap. Two weeks, one quick buying trip, and a spark of courage later, Keaton Place opened its doors.

From day one, the business has been shaped by the bond between Jennifer and her daughter, Kate Officer-Pritchett; even the name itself carries deep family meaning. “Keaton Place is inspired by my grandmother, Bobbye, and my childhood home,” Jennifer says. “Bobbye lived beside the original Boy Scout House, owned by Mr. Pinkus Keaton, and later built her home around it. They always called the house Keaton Place,” she explains. “When it came time to name the store, we had no hesitation.” As an aside, Bobbye remains part of the shop today, most famously through her hand-painted gift bags that have become a signature Keaton Place touch.

Even in uncertainty, customers embraced the shop wholeheartedly, giving them the confidence to keep building and imagining what Keaton Place could become.

In the beginning, Jennifer handled everything herself. “Keaton Place had no staff,” she says. “I managed buying, operations, merchandising, customer service… all of it.” Kate, only 18 at the time, helped whenever needed and ran social media. “Keaton Place was just an hourly college job in the beginning,” she laughs. That changed in 2020. “That year altered the course of Keaton Place forever,” Kate says. She moved into a greater leadership role in buying and creative direction, helping transform Keaton Place into the seasonally inspired, joy-filled store it is today.

Working together as a mother and daughter has always felt natural. “We know when to let the other take creative freedom,” Kate says. “We know each other’s strengths.” Jennifer adds, “Our main form of communication is email. We don’t sit side-by-side, so email it is!”

Their decision to expand into Cookeville started with a late-night scroll. “I stumbled across a post about new retail spaces on 10th Street,” Kate explains. After meeting the developer, everything clicked. “It felt like a place where community could happen,” Jennifer says. “While Livingston offers historic charm, the Cookeville store brings a fresh, modern feel. The goal is to honor what is true of both and make them beautiful in their own ways,’ she added. 

Every collection at Keaton Place is rooted in intention. “Good food, thoughtful details, cozy moments, and shared tables… that’s what makes a house a home,” Kate says. And as they open their doors in Cookeville, Jennifer and Kate are excited to welcome new faces into the familial community they’ve built. “Our customers become friends, and like family,” Jennifer shares. “Some days we feel like therapists with a store on the side, and I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

Jennifer expresses that their hope for every shopper is simple: “We want each person who walks through our door to know they are welcomed and loved.”

Keaton Place is now open on 10th Street in Cookeville, nestled alongside their wonderful neighbors Legacy Home Interiors and Longhorn Coffee. Stop by, explore the new space, and experience the heart, creativity, and hospitality that make this mother–daughter boutique so special.