It’s the tiniest gift shop in Virginia; but it also is likely the only store in Virginia which has no overhead, no payroll and clears 100 percent of its sales as pure profit. And it certainly is the only store that gives away everything it makes!
The Seek & Find shop lives up to its unusual name. First, you must seek it. The would-be shopper must be in the westbound lane of busy Broad Street in downtown Richmond; and when you pass the Boulevard, begin to slow and watch for Stuffy’s, a popular sandwich shop. The actual number is 2930 West Broad but you also can locate the shop by the enticing aromas. Seek and then go inside and find the shop in the most desirable spot in Stuffy’s — at the front corner.
Fred Anderson
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The name Seek & Find actually was based upon the quest of the wise men “who went to seek and find the best gift, Jesus.” The shop was the brainchild of a remarkable Baptist layperson, Louise Kopcho.
In 1952 Louise and her late husband, Howard, joined Westhampton Baptist Church in Richmond. She quickly became involved in the church’s activities and served as superintendent of the primary department. She also was the first woman to serve as superintendent of the Sunday school. She became known as someone who recognized needs and sought to meet them. Some 24 years ago she started ESL (English-as-a-Second-Language) in her church and she still counts ESL as opening the doors to new and continuing relationships with people from other lands.
Once her pastor, Bill Hardison (now pastor of May Memorial Baptist Church in Powhatan), preached on “Freight & Baggage” and urged his hearers to “get rid of your baggage but keep your freight.” She looked about her house — a spacious and attractive home in western Henrico County — and saw items — “baggage” — which could be converted into the “freight” which could help others. She began to dream about opening a gift shop filled with “gently loved” items and she envisioned the profits going to help others.
Twenty years ago, Louise had a chance encounter. She was having her car serviced; and while waiting, she was studying information on Muslims in America as preparation for a part she had in her church’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering program. Sitting next to her was a handsome young Muslim man from Pakistan. He glanced at the material in her hands and commented that she had a beautiful handwriting and she complimented him on his English.
They introduced themselves; and she dared to invite this stranger, Amin Merchant, to visit her home. The two sat in her living room and shared about each other’s faith. Amin explained his Muslim faith; and when Louise began to share about Christianity, Amin knelt beside her and listened intently to everything she had to say. For awhile, Amin rented a room in the Kopcho home. When his father and brother visited, Louise said they could stay as her guests. When she invited her new friend to the ESL classes at her church, he said, “But I am a Muslim!”
It is no wonder that Amin Merchant’s face lights up at the very mention of his Christian friend and that he describes their relationship as “just like family.” When Louise was inspired by her pastor’s sermon, she talked with Amin about her dream. He insisted that she establish the shop in his restaurant at no charge. She also credits a book, Sanctuary for Your Soul, for prompting the direction of her dream. A line in the book inspired her: “A special picture, a pretty cup and saucer, a soft throw — things that move and delight and nurture your soul.” Those kinds of items became the inventory of her shop.
Seeing double? Louise Kopcho (left) shows her twin, Lucille Andrews, an item in the Seek & Find shop.
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In 2000 Louise — then age 80 — went through all the hurdles of securing a business license and paying taxes just as if it was a for-profit business. But when it came time to distribute the earnings, she turned to the Richmond Baptist Association for guidance. Across the years receipts were given to various “world hunger” causes, including the Baptist centers operated by the Richmond Association, the Liberian Cattle Project sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and missionary work in Amin’s native country. Most recently, receipts went to help the people of Haiti.
She filled the Seek & Find shelves with quality castoffs from her house and from her fellow church members. There were china cups, glassware, handmade items and knickknacks. All were priced very reasonably and all proceeds were destined for a good cause which would help others.
In the first five years, Louise was able to turn over nearly $8,000. When she decided that she could no longer maintain the shop, Kathleen Coxon, a member of Woodland Heights Baptist Church in south Richmond, took up the challenge. Together with her husband, Clarence, and interested friends she has continued to stock the shelves, price the goods and distribute funds to worthy missions projects.
Recently the Seek & Find shop reached its 10th anniversary. The extent of the celebration was a helium-filled balloon floating in the shop’s corner but the joy was much deeper. And Louise Kopcho, now 90, was there to help celebrate. Over the course of the last 10 years the items sold have produced likely over $10,000 for the needy. Amin is quick to point out that a U.S. dollar represents 85 Pakistan “dollars.”
Louise Diggs Kopcho may have come by her missionary spirit naturally. “My aunt always insisted that we were related to Lottie Diggs Moon,” says Louise. She and her twin, Lucille, were reared in Little River Baptist Church in Louisa County. The twins made professions of faith at age 9 and wore their Sunday best to be baptized in a pond. She still remembers the hymn which the people were singing: “O Happy Day!”
Louise left the farm at age 17 to come to the big city and stay with an uncle and aunt while studying at one of the local business schools. She had several jobs before she came to the telephone company — an early employer of women in the work force — and worked her way to a supervisory position in the accounting department.
When the time was right, Louise Kopcho drew from all those years of Bible study. She welcomed a stranger. She practiced hospitality. She witnessed about her own faith. She gave what she could with the distribution to be for those in need. Seek & Find is a good place to shop.
Fred Anderson is executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies, located on the campus of the University of Richmond. He may be contacted at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.