Bringing The Southwest To The Olde Mistick Village

Michigan natives and owners of in the , Les and Lu Lupovich unleashed their passion for the Southwest 17 years ago and haven’t stopped yet. Their boutique showcases the work of Southwestern Native American artisans and artists.

The feeling upon entering the Southern Exposure is that of basking in the sun after a cold grey winter. The vibrant earthly colors and tactile merchandise made of clay, wood, metals, cotton, wool, horsehair and leather elicit a childlike yearning to touch everything.

If one entire wall of cowboy boots doesn’t wag a tongue, the hand carved native pottery and luscious turquoise jewelry will.

Les, a Cranbrook Academy of Art graduate with a degree in photography and Lu, a legal assistant by vocation, grew up in and near Detroit. After graduation from Cranbrook, Les took a job at a commercial photography studio shooting cars and in the 70s when the auto industry debunked, opened a small feed store. Les’s western flare was just a whisper then as the feed store blossomed into Levi’s and saddlery.

“My wife was one of my first employees,” Les said. “One of our strongest bonds were animals. That is what initially brought us together.” 

Lu had family in Connecticut and when Madison photographer Tom Hopkins offered Les a job in 1989, they decided to make a move here from Michigan.

Over the years, they developed a passion for the southwest and visited yearly. After what Les described as two outrageous weeks spent traveling between Bryce Canyon and Moab, Utah he had a moment of inspiration, which changed the trajectory of their lives.  

“It was November of 1993,” Les said. “We were headed back on a plane and [Lu] was reading a trashy novel and I turned to her and said ‘what do you think about opening up a retail store in Connecticut that sells Native American and southwestern items?’” 

Lu gave Les free reign to follow his wings of desire. Originally Les thought Newport might be a good retail location until stumbling into the Mystic area one day.

“I happened upon Olde Mystic Village, I liked what I saw, surrounded by parking, restrooms and it was Mystic,” Les said. “Mystic has that magic that brings people from all over the world.”

That was 17 years ago and now with the addition of a second store in Old Saybrook, Les and Lu have manifested a rich piece of the southwest in Mystic. The merchandise is authentic—if it looks native it is native. Guest artisans are invited to the store to talk about their work, and Southern Exposure has become a destination for many.

“Whether it’s in a $40 pair of Navajo earrings or a $500 pair of cowboy boots, the product still conveys the culture and tradition,” Les explained.

Over the last 17 years, Les and Lu have seen the excesses of the 2000s fall by the wayside, but are thankful to still be here and doing well.  

“We’ve changed our offering but our focus and passion is still the same,” Les said.