Joelle Cooling has fostered a collective spirit from the day she opened the doors to her successful downtown Burlington fashion boutique, Joelleโs. A deep-rooted connection to giving back, whether through volunteering, fundraising, charity work, or mentorship, was ingrained in her early. At age nine, Cooling got her first taste of hard work at her best friendโs family greenhouse, as helping out was the only way to hang out. That experience would help define her career as an entrepreneur.
A New Chapter
Cooling recently retired from ownership of Joelleโs after 28 years. Her legacy will continue through three local businesses, each playing a role in reimagining the retail scene. This unique transition, happening at a challenging time for independent retailers, is a refreshing evolution for Burlingtonโs downtown core. It includes the launch of Joelleโs By Ally on John Street; the expansion into Joelleโs former Brant Street location of Jeffโs Guyshop, run by her husband Jeff with their son Jackson joining the team; and the arrival of ROAM, owned by Alex Brooker and Erica Gower, both former Joelleโs employees, in the previous Jeffโs Guyshop space.
โYouโll still see me working at Joelleโs by Ally on occasion or over at the menโs store,โ Cooling says. โThe relationship with my customers is so valued and never forgotten.โ
The evolution of retail
Cooling is transparent about her reason for retiring: burnout. After navigating the pandemic, keeping pace with the constantly changing digital world, and feeling physically exhausted, she wants others to know theyโre not alone if theyโre feeling overwhelmed. โIโm giving myself a break so I can be the best me again,โ says Cooling. โMy focus is wellness, and wellness for me includes the business.โ
A series of serendipitous events led to ensuring the right person would carry on her business. This person turned out to be Ally Reed. โHer dad shopped at our store and always spoke so highly of his daughter,โ she explains. โAlly had always dreamed of opening her own business, and I agreed to mentor her for a year and then continue the discussion about ownership.โ
Soon after the doors closed at the original Joelleโs location, Joelleโs By Ally opened on February 10, 2025. โMoving to a new space gave us the opportunity to reimagine the already successful brand,โ shares Reed, new owner of the boutique. โIt was important to me to design a space that still felt authentic to the old store but with my twist on it.โ
After a complete renovation, Jeffโs Guyshop reopened on March 1, offering a revitalized shopping experience in a bigger space. โWe have created a hub downtown with the three businesses,โ says Jackson Cooling. โAll of the stores are on the same block and have the same familiar faces our customers have grown to love over the years.โ
As the new shop on the block, ROAM also opened on March 1. โWe get to build our following and continue to help customers weโve known for the many years we worked at Joelleโs,โ adds Gower. โWeโre excited to put our spin on a new boutique experience and style sense.โ

Tailoring the future
Beyond business planning and logistics, the transition underscores something even more important โ having someone who believes in you. โJoelle has mentored me about the importance of our customers and providing exceptional service,โ says Reed. โHer dedication to the community and her passion for business gave me the confidence to continue Joelleโs business forward.โ
โJoelleโs unwavering support helped get us here. We grew our friendship as her employees, and she remained our mentor and role model,โ explains Brooker. โShe encouraged us along the way and offered us the space to expand our permanent footprint in downtown Burlington.โ
Jackson Cooling echoes the sentiment. โIโm looking forward to continuing the legacy of the business my parents started,โ he says, โbut also adding my personal touch on things to welcome the next generation of shoppers.โย
