Christy K. Truitt
As a small-town high school graduate entering college in 1988, Auburn seemed so chic to me.
Nowhere in West Alabama could I sit in a café (we didn’t even have cafés back then), order a chicken croissant and browse unique and diverse art displays. But thanks to the newly established Behind the Glass, I could. And I did. As often as my J&M Bookstore paycheck allowed, I pretended to be sophisticated and worldly.
The two-story business opened in 1987 on Magnolia Ave. I discovered her a year later. We’ve both ebbed and flowed through time, and I’m happy to say I’m still a patron. Just not of the lunch experience. The once foodie/art gallery has evolved into a destination stop for stylish clothing, jewelry and gifts.
Donna Young, owner and founder, began the business with her husband at a time when retail had moved to the outskirts of town, following the Auburn Mall. Food was the main purpose of the endeavor. The art was more for decoration and conversation.
“The original idea was to showcase art and handcrafted items, and the café was to actually pay the rent, says Donna. “The café was an unexpected hit. As it turned out there weren’t really many places to eat downtown at the time.” She says her favorite part about the café was the diversity of people who frequented it.
“We had city officials, professors, students, out of town visitors and even celebrities like Michael Stipes of REM and designer Cynthis Rowley,” says Donna. “Lots of people commented it would not be out of place in New York or San Francisco.”
See? I knew I felt worldly whenever I stopped by. During the early 90s, the café space opened after hours for art films, open mic nights, play productions and art presentations.
Like patron Michael Snipes sang “Change is what I believe in,” in the hit REM song “I Believe,” Donna felt downtown Auburn shift and change. She added a bookstore and espresso machine. Numerous book readings by local and visiting authors occurred after hours. When the café closed permanently, Donna filled the downstairs space with unique and affordable home goods. Missing the art displays, she opened a mini gallery upstairs, but “no one climbed the stairs to see it.” In 2005, Donna changed once again to the boutique we see today. Millennials and Gen Zs flock to BTG, as she’s affectionately known, to see the latest fashions by such designers as Free People, Karlie, Show Me Your MuMu and Z Supply, but Donna emphasizes the clothing is curated for women of all ages.
“It’s been fun to watch some of the styles come back around like the long dresses, overalls and cargo pants that I wore in the 70s,” says Donna.
Donna laments the days of unique art and casual dining and tries to keep the spirit of the former BTG incarnations alive to continue feeding her artistic soul. One such way is the magnificent magnolia mural she commissioned from Atlanta artist Janice Rago on the store’s exterior brick. Now people flock to the store for photos as well as clothing.
“The mural was a way to give back to the city with something that people wanted and to put art on the street for everyone,” says Donna. During the holidays, street passersby will notice Santa Claus in the BTG window over Hamilton’s as a tribute to Donna’s childhood in Montgomery where she and her brothers visited the jolly old elf displayed in Loveman’s Department Store window.
“We have employees in elf costumes assisting the kids. We give them old-fashioned animal crackers, and I bake my mom’s famous chocolate chip cookies to give out on the sidewalk. I think Santa looks fabulous up in the window! It’s all free to the public, but we encourage donations to the Boys and Girls Club which is one of our store charities,” says Donna. In addition to the Christmas displays, BTG changes up the windows at least three times a year. The store recently revamped the dressing rooms with retro wallpaper and vintage-inspired art. The shoe section sports 1950s colors and lighting to reflect the aesthetic of the building.
Donna and daughter Chloe Floyd, who has taken a more active leadership role in recent years, are proud the store has weathered the changing times – from art galleries to café lunches, to the explosion of online shopping, not to forget Covid and losing football seasons. The ladies and staff put a lot of effort into making the shopping experience both uplifting and visually appealing. “I think people are longing for a connection, and we prioritize service and friendliness from our staff. BTG is so much more than selling clothes. We are all about community, connection and beauty,” says Donna.
As a patron of BTG from almost the beginning, this 1988 college freshman can attest that they have done just that.
