When Ronnie Pope opened RJ Pope Traditional Menswear in 1975, downtown Statesboro was a very different place. Locally owned hardware stores, shoe shops, and ladies’ boutiques lined the streets. Georgia Southern was still a college. Football hadn’t yet made its historic return to the school.
But even then, Pope knew one thing: he wanted to build something lasting.
“I’ve been on South Main for almost 58 years, 50 at RJ Pope Traditional Menswear and eight at Minkovitz Department Store,” Pope said. “Our success, we owe to God, family, and this community.”
From Garfield to Main Street
Pope grew up on a farm in Garfield, Georgia. While attending Georgia Southern, he worked part-time at Minkovitz for about seven years. After serving in the Marine Corps Reserve for six years, he returned to Statesboro, got married, and continued in retail before deciding to open his own store.
“We started with very traditional, classic merchandise,” Pope recalled. “Top-quality merchandise, service, and commitment to everything we do.”
The early years were all about building trust and relationships.
“We have relationships with our customers’ children, and now we’re into third generations,” Pope said. “We’re not a big-box store. We’re special givers. We have special merchandise, personal service, and in-house alterations — and that’s been a big deal with us from the very beginning.”
A Commitment to Downtown
Through five decades, RJ Pope has remained a downtown anchor, even as other retailers closed or relocated. Pope remembers the days when downtown was filled with locally owned shops.
“In the late ’60s, we had three pharmacies, hardware stores, ladies’ shops… all that kind of went away, and we were able to stay downtown,” he said. “I tell everybody, we were downtown retail.”
He’s also seen the community’s growth firsthand. “Getting Coach (Erk) Russell here was one of the biggest things to happen to Statesboro,” Pope said. “We’ve had so many good things, the university growing, industries coming in. We have benefited, but we’ve also given back.”
Pope has served with the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authority, and local recreation boards, and has supported both public and private schools.
“We’ve tried and will continue to try to be community-oriented, to support our local customers and neighbors,” he said.
Family Business, Loyal Staff
For Pope, one of the greatest blessings has been working alongside family. His wife Sherry Pope managed a ladies’ store, The Cobbler's Bench, for 32 years before it merged with their Buckhead Plaza location. His two sons, Scott and Wes, have also worked in the business.
“I guess one of the happiest times was in the early ’90s, when our business really grew and my boys came into it,” Pope said. “Retail is not an easy business, especially now with Amazon. But you can’t get what we offer online, to come in the store, feel, touch, get measured, and be taken care of.”
He also credits the store’s longtime employees. “Without good employees, you have nothing,” Pope said. “Mark Glover has been with our downtown store for over 40 years. Lea Williams at Buckhead started here in college. Robin Salter runs the ladies’ department. We’ve been blessed.”
Pope also wanted to extend his appreciation for Paula Mincey Williams, who has worked with the store for many years.
Preparing for the Future
At 81, Pope still works most days and is looking ahead. Renovations are underway at the downtown store, including new floors and lighting.
“We’re just trying to get ready for another generation, or two or three,” he said. “I’m happy we have educated young people here who are staying in the community. We want to be part of their lives and contribute back.”
The building itself, like much of downtown, carries history. “These buildings are probably from the early 1900s or late 1800s,” Pope said. “They take a lot to keep up, but they’re worth it.”
A Legacy of Giving Back
For Pope, the store’s 50th anniversary isn’t just about business longevity, it’s about the people who made it possible.
“Our customers, our employees, our neighbors -- they’re the reason we’re still here,” he said. “We’ve been supported, and we’ve tried to give back over the years. That’s the way it should be.”
Mr. Pope ended our conversation by telling me the secret to running the business all these years. He wanted to make sure he gave a special thanks to his wife Mrs. Sherry, because she gave him all the support and confidence he needed so they could make this happen.
Looking around at a town that’s grown far beyond what he imagined in 1974, Pope remains humble. “Absolutely not — I never thought Statesboro would be this big,” he said. “But a city that’s not growing is dying. We just keep working, keep our heads down, and keep serving the people who’ve supported us.”