Gladys DorianMADISON MARKETPLACE94 • SEPTEMBER 2021
– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –A D V E R T O R I A LAnyone who walks into Madison Marketplacewill surely see the smiling face ofproprietor Gladys Dorian. Blonde hair piledon top of her head, dimples that accentuateher beautiful smile, Gladys exudes happinessand makes everyone in her presence feelwelcomed. “I’m just so blessed to be here,doing what I’m doing, and that makes mehappy every day.”A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Gladysattended Catholic schools while growing up,then went to college at the Montgomerybranch of Auburn University where shestudied elementary education and business.The business part of her studies was furtherenhanced by the on-the-job training she gotwhile working for her brother who owned tworetail businesses in Montgomery. “I workedfor him starting at age 21, and I worked retailwith him until I was 29.” Her other brothermoved to Pensacola and opened a store there.In the late 1980s, Gladys moved to Atlanta.“I had been doing business there, going tomarket for my brother’s stores, and I went towork for someone in the apparel market. Ieven opened my own business for a few years.”Gladys got married to her husband, John, in1993, and his job brought them to Madison in1996, shortly after the birth of their twin sons,Chuck and Andy. “I thought Madison lookedlike a little storybook town. We lived in anapartment when we first moved here, then webought a house in Madison. Our sons werejust six weeks old when we moved here, sothey grew up in Madison.” The family nowlives in the neighborhood behind St. FrancisChurch, where they are parishioners.While her sons were in school, Gladystaught pre-school. “I taught for 15 years whilethe boys were in school. It was perfect, becausemy schedule worked with theirs, and I couldbe there for practice and games, and I was offthe summers and holidays with them.”Six years ago, the retail bug began to biteagain, and Gladys says she was ready to start anew venture. Gladys and her business partner,Tracy Allen, found the perfect spot to open aretail business in Madison - an old home builtin 1860, on Madison Avenue. Opening andestablishing a successful business is anall-encompassing endeavor, and Gladys saysthat’s certainly been the case with MadisonMarketplace. While Gladys is the “face” ofMadison Marketplace, she owns the businesswith Tracy, who is a full-time pharmacist atthe Blair Batson Children’s Hospital. “Weinvited area artists to an open house to see thebuilding and to hear my plans for it,” saysGladys. “We wanted a store that featuresMississippi artists and products,” says Tracy.“We fill in with other things that appeal to thismarket.”Madison Marketplace celebrated its sixthanniversary in business in June of this year.The business has become much more than agift shop. “We feature artists in each room,including Jill Stricklin, Sarah McTaggart,Cindy Mercer and Jonni Webb,” says Gladys.“We have added a lot of new artists since we’veopened as well. I feel so blessed to showcase somany talented artists, and I’ve become goodfriends with many of them.” FeaturingMississippi-made products is important toGladys, who says that the store also carriesmany local food products and other items.Customers at Madison Marketplace havebecome friends as well. “We are incrediblyblessed with the most wonderful and loyalcustomers,” says Gladys. “They certainlysustained us during Covid.” Gladys says thepandemic forced the store to close for sometime, which could have been disastrous.“I had to find a different way to sell,” she says.“I went to the store every day and postedpictures on social media. We shipped items,and one of my sons delivered all over thetri-county area. We also did curbside pickup.Our customers were such a blessing to us.They kept us going by buying Easter basketsand Mother’s Day gifts, as well as gifts forweddings and birthdays. That made all thedifference.” Tracy says the business made itthrough the pandemic because Gladys dug indeep and worked harder.Gladys feels she is in the ideal location forlong-term success. “Madison Avenue openedup to the interstate a few years ago, so we areeven more accessible. The new town centerdevelopment across from us will bring evenmore excitement to our area.”One of the fun things about the businessfor Gladys is having customers come in andsay they once lived in the house. “It was aresidence until the 1980s,” she says. “Since thattime it’s been a restaurant and a tearoom. Wehave had customers tell us stories about livingin the house or eating in the restaurant or evenspending time in the tearoom. One lady saidher mama planted the fig tree out back whenthey lived there. And another told us thatparents would sit on the front porch of thehouse and watch the football games across thestreet at the school. This old house has a lot ofstories, and we are adding to them!” Tracy saysthat when they were first talking about whatkind of business they wanted to create, sheand Gladys agreed they wanted a food, fun,happy place. “We wanted a drama-freeworkplace where everyone felt at home.”While the store keeps her busy, Gladyssays she makes time each morning to walk inStrawberry Patch Park. “That’s a special placefor me. I used to stroll my boys there whenthey were babies, and as they grew, theyplayed in the park. I walk three or four lapson the track each morning and I’ve found it’sthe best way to start my day. I absolutely loveit.” A member of St. Francis of Assisi CatholicChurch, Gladys says the family has alwaysenjoyed the many events held at the church,including the annual Friday nigh Lentenservice and the annual Cajun Fest. “I actuallyhad a booth at the Cajun Fest for a couple ofyears before I opened the store.”Family is everything to Gladys, and she saysher twin boys are truly the greatest two joys ofher life. Now 25, Chris lives and works inAtlanta, where he is pursuing a career in thefitness industry. Andy lives in Madison andworks at Methodist Rehab. He is currently inphysical therapy tech school. Glady’s rock is herhusband, John, who is in medical sales anddrives for Uber. “I can’t imagine being anywhereelse,” says Gladys. “I am so very blessed.”Madison Marketplace is at 961 Madison Avenue in Madison.Find out more at madison-market-place.business.site/.Hometown MADISON • 95