Sunset, Louisiana

There are many stories as to how Sunset got its name, and most revolve around the railroad coming to this town just south of Opelousas and a stone’s throw from Grand Coteau.

Some believe the conductor of the Sunset Limited suggested the name, while others believe railroad workers applied the moniker at the end of their workday. Regardless, the community began after the railroad arrived in the late 1880s, a small commercial hub for area sweet potato farmers.

Today, the quaint little town has reinvented itself as a destination shopping experience, with a variety of thrift stores and flea markets, the extensive offerings of Mélange Antiques and Architecturals, plus the Sunset Antique Market, not to mention several artists’ galleries open on weekends—making it a great day trip or a new pearl on the strand of charming small Acadiana towns that serpentines from Breaux Bridge to Arnaudville on through Grand Coteau and finally Sunset.

Marvel Guidry, who owns Bayou Some Stuff thrift store, views Sunset as the starting point of the antique spectrum on one side of Interstate 49 with Grand Coteau offering more higher-end fare in their antique stores on the other. It’s possible to visit both towns within a day with plenty of great restaurants to choose from for lunch and dinner, she said.

Guidry opened her thrift store with a hippie motif around 2003, and since then other like-minded stores have followed: Two Grandma’s thrift store, Funky Flea’s upscale vintage and antiques, and Sunset Antiques flea market and farmer’s market on weekends. Kappy’s Korner and Becky’s Barn are located within four miles of Sunset to the north toward Opelousas.

“So now people from out of town can come in and do more shopping,” Guidry said. “On weekends, you get value for your buck with so many places to shop and so many places to eat.”

Visitors may want to spend quite some time perusing the shelves of Bayou Some Stuff, a thrift store with inexpensive everyday items but also offering eclectic and unusual finds, throwbacks for Baby Boomers and on occasion artwork, such as Guidry’s fused glass peace signs and necklaces. Adorning the walls are Beatles posters, LPs, more peace signs, psychedelic flowers and a throw announcing “The Hippies Were Right.”

Guidry is a retired schoolteacher and coach who stumbled into her new career after conducting a garage sale to downsize.

“The garage sale to get rid of my stuff turned into this,” she explained. “Every time I had a garage sale people would drop things off.”

Guidry credits the store to people wanting to “recycle” their stuff instead of throwing it away. She obtains merchandise from auctions, garage sales and storage facility sales, but also from  people who want to downsize their lives as well.

“I get four to five boxes a day,” Guidry explained, showing off her workroom full of merchandise waiting to be tagged. “We pump them out.”

“The community has been very good to us,” she continued. “I think we are good for the community or we wouldn’t be successful. But the community without a doubt is fabulous.”

Fun touches throughout the store include the “Have a Grateful Day” doll head Guidry has decorated and the VW Bug accenting the ceiling. In the back corner is Rufus, an oversized English bulldog Guidry takes care of during the day. The former sixties USL student even owns a flower power-esque cell phone.

Occasionally, patrons are serenaded by gospel singer Virgie Iglus and students Katie and Emily Johnson. In November, the store was part of the Festival of Words’ Drive-by Poetry readings.

All in the family

The whole Guidry family is part of the adventure it seems. Marvel’s two sisters, Charla Guidry and Jerilyn LaVergne, create fused glass creations in their Sunset studios located practically next door to Mélange Antiques and Architecturals. Their mother, Goldie Guidry, 92, also helps out at Bayou Some Stuff on weekends.

Charla and Jerilyn LaVergne began their foray into art after taking a painting class together at UL’s Continuing Education.

“That was all we needed because we both had our inner talents,” LaVergne explained philosophically.

Both sisters worked as nurses and are now retired, focusing full-time on their artwork, LaVergne said. They sell their creations at festivals and craft events, but visitors to Sunset can tour LaVergne’s gallery and gift shop pretty much any day of the week by calling ahead, she said.

LaVergne works out of a brightly colored workspace that overlooks her garden. Since much of her artwork consists of wind chimes, sun catchers, mosaics and garden spikes, the exterior of her gallery features many of her colorful creations and a symphonic rush occurs when the wind blows.

“Some times I come in here (her studio) and I think, ‘I cannot believe I make a living at this’,” she said. “I’m very happy. This is the real me, to do whatever I wanted to do. It’s fun to live in this space and be.”

LaVergne also sings the praises of rural Sunset, close enough to Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but far enough for peace and quiet and an occasional bonfire in the back yard with her sisters.

Other artists working in the area include Margaret Brinkhaus, a mixed media artist who also owns La Caboose, a set of restored railroad cars that doubles as a bed and breakfast, and clay artist Annie Hendrix.

“We’re so lucky in this little town,” she said. “And we’re surrounded by so many wonderful things.” 
 

Details, Details, Details

Bayou Some Stuff
798 Napoleon Avenue, Sunset, La
(337) 331-5577
8 am–5 pm, Thursdays and Fridays. 
9 am–5 pm, Saturdays.

Glass artist Jerilyn LaVergne
287 Pershing Highway, Sunset, La
(337) 662-5409
jerilynsglassstudio.com
By appointment.

Mélange Antiques & Architecturals
184 Pershing Highway, Sunset, La
(337) 662-2121
melangeantiques.com
9 am-4 pm, Monday—Friday